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A review by the_lesbrarian
Late Bloomer by Mazey Eddings
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Opal is floundering in indecision in her mid-twenties— stuck at what she promised herself was a short-term job, recently single, living alone and broke in her hometown. When she wins a life-changing amount of money, she puts it all towards a flower farm where she can pursue her dream of being an artist. However, she arrives to find that the farm is already occupied by a disgruntled gardener named Pepper. Her new start on life quickly complicates as the two women find that they have more in common than they realized.
Such a sweet relationship develops between the two main characters, the reader can’t help but fall in love along with them.
While there are certain aspects that I wish the author spent more time on, such as Pepper’s chronic migraines, or her complex relationship with her mother, I do appreciate that the books limited handling of these issues maintained its overall feel as a gooey, feel-good romance. This novel has no homophobia, internalized or otherwise, which is a very welcome deviation from most other contemporary lesbian romances, and allows the reader a lovely true romance novel escapism experience.
Thank you to NetGalley and for the opportunity to honestly read and review the eARC of Late Bloomer.
rep
- chronic illness (migraines)
- autistic LI
- neurodivergent mc
- non-binary sc
- wlw main relationship
- sapphic side relationship
- mlm side relationship
Graphic: Sexual content and Grief
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, and Abandonment
narcissistic abuse from a parent
alcoholism trigger is referring to main character’s complicated relationship with substances
grief due to death of grandparent is central to novel, but off-page, before story begins