n artist and a reclusive flower farmer learn to trust each other and start over again in Eddings's (The Plus One) latest. Opal is an art-school dropout with a dead-end job and a string of bad friends and worse exes. When she wins the lottery, she sees the chance to start over on a flower farm in in Asheville, NC, and make a business out of her art. Through a twist of fate and a series of impulsive decisions, she finds herself cohabiting with Pepper, a prickly flower farmer struggling to make ends meet after the death of her grandmother. Despite their clashing personalities and deep insecurities, the two soon find themselves drawn to one another and will have to work together to turn their dreams into reality. This is an engaging sapphic romance about two people who have a history of being taken advantage of and must learn to trust each other. Eddings brings a light and optimistic touch to characters dealing with substance addiction, grief, and the downsides of neurodivergence. VERDICT Recommended for readers who enjoy contemporary queer romance, meet-cutes, and rural settings. --Sierra Wilson (Reviewed 12/01/2023) (Library Journal).

Late Bloomer was a good read and the characters were nice. The best characters though were the secondary ones, especially Opal's two sisters. Not the best; not the worst. ( )

Late Bloomers by Mazey Eddings
Contemporary sapphic romance.
Opal Devlin likes to do things for people. Even when she can’t afford it herself. Winning the lottery is a surprise bonus she never expected. She also didn’t expect friends to immediately expect a handout. Opal takes the money and buys a farm, thinking she can finally make her art into a business. But when she gets there, she finds that the farm is still actively growing flowers and Pepper didn’t know her mother had sold the property out from under her. Opal and Pepper agree to coexist on the farm while they both make decisions on their future.

Lots of life planning, some angst, a bit of loving, and quite a few flower arrangements and metaphorical flower analogies.

🎧 I alternated between an ebook and audiobook when reading this story. The audiobook is narrated by Ellie Gossage. The performance is well done with distinct voices for Opal and Pepper as well as a couple of the secondary characters. Both the print version and audio also have chapter headings that tell you whose POV is being told. The different temperaments of Pepper and Opal come through clearly in the audio which helps in getting to know them both.

I enjoyed the sisterhood closeness and support of Opal’s sisters, Ophelia and Olivia. They are overjoyed at Opal’s winnings and drop everything to travel to her when she calls.
I’m glad Opal saw through her so called friend.
I also thought it was great that Opal was so supportive of the farm and the business.

Opposites attract romance with several depths of love and friendship and affection.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and publisher Macmillan Audio. ( )