Review of ‘Late Bloomer‘ by Mazey Eddings. Sparks fly both in arguments and growing attraction, in ‘Late Bloomer’, a sapphic opposites-attract romance.
“Fuck anything and anyone that made you have to survive instead of live. You deserve a life so peaceful it feels deliciously boring. A life filled with flowers and sunny days and people who show you all the time that you’re valued and worthy. You deserve it all.”
– Late Bloomer
Mazey Eddings
‘Late Bloomer’ is a cozy novel with a blooming sapphic opposites-attract romance
Synopsis
Winning the lottery has ruined Opal Devlin’s life. After quitting her dead-end job where she’d earned minimum wage and even less respect, she’s 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 tender heart thoroughly abused, Opal decides to protect herself by any means necessary, which to her translates to putting almost all her new 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.
But her plans for isolation and self-preservation go hopelessly awry when an angry (albeit gorgeous) Pepper Smith is waiting for her at her new farm. Pepper 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 butt-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?
Review
I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
‘Late Bloomer‘ by Mazey Eddings offers readers a fun and cozy plot that wraps them up like a warm blanket on a chilly evening. From the first page, you’re drawn into the charming world of Thistle and Bloom Farms, where lottery winner Opal Devlin finds herself entangled in unexpected adventures. The plot unfolds with delightful surprises, making it a joy to journey alongside the characters.
One of the standout features of ‘Late Bloomer‘ is its dynamic and diverse cast of characters. Eddings skillfully incorporates representation of neurodivergent characters, adding depth and authenticity to the story. Each character brings their own unique perspective to the narrative, enriching the overall reading experience.
While the setting of Thistle and Bloom Farms provides a picturesque backdrop for the story, I found myself craving more depth in the world-building department. The glimpses we get of the flower farm leave us wanting to explore further, and it would have been rewarding to see more intricacies of this enchanting setting.
Eddings’ writing style in ‘Late Bloomer‘ leans a little towards the cringe, cliché, and cheesy side, peppered (see what I did there?) with numerous pop culture references. Despite these elements, the romance between Opal and Pepper still manages to be swoon-worthy and overall very cute to read. The author doesn’t hold back on the spice either, with several steamy sapphic scenes that will leave readers turning the pages for more.
While the chemistry between Opal and Pepper sizzles in the bedroom, I sometimes felt like their connection lacked depth outside of these intimate moments. Despite their status as opposites attracting, a stronger foundation of shared interests or heartfelt conversations could have enhanced their relationship dynamics.
‘Late Bloomer‘ could’ve benefitted from more character development to fully round out its ensemble cast. Without deeper exploration of the characters’ motivations and backstories, the story may feel slightly padded, and some readers may find themselves wishing for a tighter narrative.
Would I recommend it?
Yes I would. ‘Late Bloomer‘ is a charming read that balances cozy romance with spicy scenes and an engaging plot. While it may have its flaws, fans of sapphic romance will find much to enjoy in Mazey Eddings’ latest offering.
Rating
7/10
Details
- Trigger warnings / Grief, losing a loved one, cheating, complicated relationship with alcohol, parental neglect/abandonment, scamming
- Representation / Queer main characters, neurodiverse main characters, queer side characters
- Genre / General Fiction (Adult), Romance
- Pages / 400
- Publication date / April 16th, 2024
- Publisher / Griffin
- About the author / Mazey Eddings is a neurodiverse author, dentist, and (most importantly) stage mom to her cats, Yaya and Zadie. She can most often be found reading romance novels under her weighted blanket and asking her boyfriend to bring her snacks. She’s made it her personal mission in life to destigmatize mental health issues and write love stories for every brain. With roots in Ohio and North Carolina, she now calls Philadelphia home.
With love,
heavenlybookish 