Late Bloomer by Mazey Eddings
Rating: ★★★★★
Dates Read: 1/9/24 - 1/10/24
Opal Devlin's life takes an unexpected turn after winning the lottery, transforming her simple existence into a chaotic struggle. Bombarded by constant demands for handouts, Opal decides to safeguard herself by investing in a failing flower farm in Asheville, North Carolina. Her plan for isolation falters when she discovers an irate Pepper Smith, claiming ownership of the farm. Reluctantly agreeing to cohabitate, Opal and Pepper clash at every turn.
As they navigate the challenges of sharing space, their combustible arguments reveal a growing attraction. Amidst the budding flowers and simmering tensions, Opal and Pepper must confront whether their differences will lead to the demise of Thistle and Bloom Farms or if they can find common ground to turn their dreams into reality.
"I have endless grace for everyone in the world, but none for myself. Why am I not allowed to make mistakes? Why does my compassion stretch to strangers but stop at my own front door?"
I absolutely loved this sweet, and surprisingly spicy, romance. Late Bloomer is a sapphic, opposites attract, forced proximity romance between two neurodivergent women who meet over a flower farm. Everything about this is perfect. Opal and Pepper are so funny, and so charming. I love that they actually communicate, and I love that we get to see a book couple struggling to find a communication style that works for them.
Opal's sisters and Pepper's friends make for a fantastic cast, and I am 1000% crossing my fingers for books about Opal's sisters. As someone who normally gags at a pop culture reference in books, they're actually pretty good here. The book effectively highlights mental health, a common theme in Mazey's works. It goes beyond the usual romance plot, skillfully exploring grief, which adds depth to the story.
"It's not an easy thing to admit that you are worthy and deserving of love, prickly thorns and messy roots and all, but it was so special to watch these two discover that in each other, and themselves."
I also really enjoyed the content at the end! Eddings included a list of almost titles, plus a guide to explain her reasoning for choosing the flowers mentioned in the book. Her acknowledgements also made me want to cry almost as much as the book did.
I can't say enough good things about this, or Mazey's work in general. Immediate five stars, I will be preordering ASAP. All the thanks in the world to Alexis Neuville with St. Martin's Press for inviting me to read this amazing digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. Late Bloomer publishes on April 16, 2024.
Comments
Post a Comment