Late Bloomer

Eddings’s (The Plus One) latest character-driven queer romance is engagingly rendered by narrator Ellie Gossage. Twenty-four-year-old Opal is neurodivergent, bisexual, and a people pleaser who is always trying to connect with others. When she wins the lottery, the script is flipped, and now everyone wants to be her friend. In one of her many impulsive moments, she uses her winnings to purchase a flower farm in Asheville, NC, with the hopes of starting an art business there. To her surprise, she discovers that the farm is already inhabited by 26-year-old Pepper, who is autistic, queer, and very guarded. Listeners will be touched by the friendship and romantic relationship that develops between Opal and Pepper as they work through issues with communication and support, moving from initial frustration and mistrust to kindness and warmth. Gossage does a fantastic job of bringing to life contrasting voices for bubbly Opal and prickly Pepper, capturing their inner thoughts with delicacy and nuance.