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Time To Bloom
They say some people are impossible to forget. Even if you want to.
That’s the case with Wesley Fordham.
From the moment he slid me that shot of whiskey,
I couldn’t shake the image of his green eyes.
He’d whisper my name, and I’d fall to pieces.
They all say he is a bad idea, but they don’t know him like I do.
They don’t know how utterly helpless I am against him.
They don’t know what it’s like to finally be seen.
They don’t know what it’s like to destroy yourself,
Just to feel the warmth of someone else's flame.
And they don’t know what it feels like when that flame turns to ash.
At nineteen, Larkin O'Ryan thinks she knows enough about love to decide she doesn't have time for it. As a self-labeled hopeless romantic, she craves all-consuming, fiery, passionate love and has sworn off anyone who can’t deliver.
That's until she meets Wesley Fordham, the mysterious older bad-boy who doesn't just spark her heart; he lights her soul on fire. A fire that Larkin can't douse, no matter how bad of an idea he seems to be.
She quickly runs out of reasons to say no, even with a GPA to uphold, an impossible-to-please mother, and a misunderstood heart to guard.
However, nothing could've prepared Larkin for the power of her own feelings. There's no limit to her love for Wesley, but when Larkin is blinded by an event that turns her world upside down, she not only questions her sanity but the course of her entire future.
That’s the case with Wesley Fordham.
From the moment he slid me that shot of whiskey,
I couldn’t shake the image of his green eyes.
He’d whisper my name, and I’d fall to pieces.
They all say he is a bad idea, but they don’t know him like I do.
They don’t know how utterly helpless I am against him.
They don’t know what it’s like to finally be seen.
They don’t know what it’s like to destroy yourself,
Just to feel the warmth of someone else's flame.
And they don’t know what it feels like when that flame turns to ash.
At nineteen, Larkin O'Ryan thinks she knows enough about love to decide she doesn't have time for it. As a self-labeled hopeless romantic, she craves all-consuming, fiery, passionate love and has sworn off anyone who can’t deliver.
That's until she meets Wesley Fordham, the mysterious older bad-boy who doesn't just spark her heart; he lights her soul on fire. A fire that Larkin can't douse, no matter how bad of an idea he seems to be.
She quickly runs out of reasons to say no, even with a GPA to uphold, an impossible-to-please mother, and a misunderstood heart to guard.
However, nothing could've prepared Larkin for the power of her own feelings. There's no limit to her love for Wesley, but when Larkin is blinded by an event that turns her world upside down, she not only questions her sanity but the course of her entire future.
- GenresRomance
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 1, 2023
24 people are currently reading
259 people want to read
About the author
Katherine Bitner
6 books169 followersKatherine has been crafting stories since she learned to write. She has a passion for story-telling, all things romance, and loves a gritty character.
When she isn’t thinking up the next binge-worthy love story, she is probably taking pictures of her pitbull or rewatching The Office for the 400th time.
When she isn’t thinking up the next binge-worthy love story, she is probably taking pictures of her pitbull or rewatching The Office for the 400th time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
January 15, 2023
2.5 🌟
I’m rounding up because I liked Larkin’s name and also because the author doesn’t have very many reviews and I don’t want to hurt her average too bad.
However, the cover is extremely misleading, it says a “love story” it’s not. It’s a story of this girl finding love for herself while in college after breaking away from her hovering mother.
I’m a romance reader so the misleading verbiage on the cover probably ruined the book for me because I came in with inaccurate expectations set by the author. But the reality is with “a love story” on top of a not love story, the author really is going to set themselves up for negative reviews bc they gave their book to the wrong audience.
I actually enjoyed the book while the first romance was blooming, but then the author decided to make it toxic (not in a good way) and you could tell she was setting it up to fail and FYI that’s not a love story no matter how many letters he writes apologizing, he was already ruined as a character.
In addition to this, to have a successful love story the female MC either has to not change… or she has to change in a good way. This one changed in a bad way while in a relationship. Lost her entire personality which is what was making the book good at the start.
I’m rounding up because I liked Larkin’s name and also because the author doesn’t have very many reviews and I don’t want to hurt her average too bad.
However, the cover is extremely misleading, it says a “love story” it’s not. It’s a story of this girl finding love for herself while in college after breaking away from her hovering mother.
I’m a romance reader so the misleading verbiage on the cover probably ruined the book for me because I came in with inaccurate expectations set by the author. But the reality is with “a love story” on top of a not love story, the author really is going to set themselves up for negative reviews bc they gave their book to the wrong audience.
I actually enjoyed the book while the first romance was blooming, but then the author decided to make it toxic (not in a good way) and you could tell she was setting it up to fail and FYI that’s not a love story no matter how many letters he writes apologizing, he was already ruined as a character.
In addition to this, to have a successful love story the female MC either has to not change… or she has to change in a good way. This one changed in a bad way while in a relationship. Lost her entire personality which is what was making the book good at the start.
October 2, 2023
This is a story about love, but it's also a story about how much that first real love completely and utterly consumes you, and how that isn't always a good thing. This book destroyed me and put me all back together at the same time. Bitner weaves so much emotion into her stories and makes you feel like you're the main character in her novels. It's real, it's raw, it's heartbreakingly beautiful.
Time To Bloom has everything you could want in a love story, a sexy and mysterious broody MMC, a FMC who would rip her own heart out just to keep him, amazing side characters, and a journey that includes all the good, and all the ugly. But most importantly, it's a story about learning to love yourself first.
Time To Bloom has everything you could want in a love story, a sexy and mysterious broody MMC, a FMC who would rip her own heart out just to keep him, amazing side characters, and a journey that includes all the good, and all the ugly. But most importantly, it's a story about learning to love yourself first.
July 20, 2022
stop what you are DOING this is a must read!! this one will give readers all the Reminders of Him, Archer’s Voice, and Love and Other Words vibes all in one. the ultimate coming of age adult romance novel
Larkin is one of the more relateable fictional characters I’ve met up to this point. she is funny, witty, SO SASSY, and thinks she knows what she wants at 19 years old. until she meets the mysteriously charming Wesley Fordham. he’s a bad habit Larkin just can’t seem break free of
Larkin is one of the more relateable fictional characters I’ve met up to this point. she is funny, witty, SO SASSY, and thinks she knows what she wants at 19 years old. until she meets the mysteriously charming Wesley Fordham. he’s a bad habit Larkin just can’t seem break free of
June 14, 2022
Despite Larkin’s strict upbringing, she is a fun and sassy 19 year old who thinks she has her life all planned out until she meets the mysterious long-haired, tatted up 24 year old Wesley, who works at the bar that her friend Val sneaks her into. From first glance they are both hooked.
What follows next is a whirlwind romance that is all-consuming for hopeless romantic Larkin. They both fall hard and fast. I love how Wes is fiercely protective of Larkin, but at the same time he tells her how strong she is. I think this is a message the author got across really well.
What I really love about this book is the raw emotion that you feel from Larkin as her feelings grow. It’s so authentic how she would go through uncertainty, but at the same time be so wrapped up in the love she felt for him - while it could have come across as annoying, I felt it was real and didn’t shy away from making Larkin a flawed but loveable character. Especially with her friendship with Val as well. Neither girl was perfect, but they loved each other and were there for one another when they needed to be.
This was a true, gritty, coming-of-age love story. There was friendship, love, family drama and heartbreak. This was a really great debut novel! I would read more by this author =)
What follows next is a whirlwind romance that is all-consuming for hopeless romantic Larkin. They both fall hard and fast. I love how Wes is fiercely protective of Larkin, but at the same time he tells her how strong she is. I think this is a message the author got across really well.
What I really love about this book is the raw emotion that you feel from Larkin as her feelings grow. It’s so authentic how she would go through uncertainty, but at the same time be so wrapped up in the love she felt for him - while it could have come across as annoying, I felt it was real and didn’t shy away from making Larkin a flawed but loveable character. Especially with her friendship with Val as well. Neither girl was perfect, but they loved each other and were there for one another when they needed to be.
This was a true, gritty, coming-of-age love story. There was friendship, love, family drama and heartbreak. This was a really great debut novel! I would read more by this author =)
September 25, 2022
What I loved most about this engaging and passionate love story is the MC’s path to finding true love within herself. This is a beautiful story of young love, figuring out how to be in a relationship, figuring out the new dynamics with parents as you grow up, trying to navigate your first steps into adulthood—and balancing it all. Brought me right back to all the college drama and excitement! Can’t wait to see what’s next!
March 13, 2024
if you want to relive your first 20s whirlwind “he’s the center of my universe and nothing and no one else matters even though we could break up at ANY moment because i’m literally 18-20” romance, THIS IS THE ONE. sheeeeesh. i know this author wrote this from her heart and soul because no one knows what that breakup feels like unless they’ve lived it. 💀
June 17, 2022
Refreshingly honest
If it wasn’t for my job, I would have read this in one sitting. Time To Bloom is a love story, but it’s also so much more. It’s about family, friendship and, most importantly, self reflection. It’s narrative is refreshingly honest, and had me hooked from start to finish. Simply put, it’s a beautiful story.
If it wasn’t for my job, I would have read this in one sitting. Time To Bloom is a love story, but it’s also so much more. It’s about family, friendship and, most importantly, self reflection. It’s narrative is refreshingly honest, and had me hooked from start to finish. Simply put, it’s a beautiful story.
June 21, 2022
This book catapulted me back to college. I miss those days so much and it felt amazing to feel them again. Katherine did a fantastic job building the setting and the emotions between two very in love people.
It was a joy to read.
It was a joy to read.
Want to read
October 1, 2022🎁 FREE on Amazon today (10/1/2022)! 🎁
June 17, 2022
Whew - took me back to this time in my own life. Loved it! The author really nailed that first tragic love 👏🏻 it was so realistic and the parent dynamic was right on the money.
July 18, 2022
This was the kind of new adult romance I absolutely needed when I was college age. This story is more of a coming-of-age or self-discovery story with romance as a backdrop, because you're really following the main character through the changes that come with moving out, living on your own, and finding yourself. It was actually the first cry I've had over a book this year, because it brought me back to the vulnerability of falling in love when you don't know who you really are. Such a beautiful and relatable story!
May 18, 2022
I was instantly hooked to this book after reading just the first few chapters. Seeing the different dynamic between the relationships in Larkin’s life explained so much. Wesley was like a saving grace for her and I loved that. He was so sweet and caring for her which wasn’t what you instantly would think when you see a guy with long blonde hair covered in tattoos. Their relationship was what I would picture true love as! I loved how this book showed Larkin slowly finding herself. The ending to this book was perfect closure for me🥰
May 12, 2022
“My tears blurred my vision, but I knew who I was looking at. The other half of me.”
I loooved this love story between seemingly bad boy Wes and introverted Larkin. When Larkin starts her sophomore year of college, she’s ready to hit the books, enjoy life with her best friend, and party. She doesn’t expect to fall so hard for the bartender pouring her drinks, but she’s practically cliff jumping after their first meeting of eyes.
Their connection felt real because of the depths of falling for your first love. It’s new, exciting, all-consuming and @kath gives us allllll of that and more.
The Journey Larkin takes to discover herself, and her dreams is lined with palpable brokenness and relatability. Where will it take her, and where will it leave her?
Read if you love:
💙College romance
💙Fractured families
💙First love
Really great job with this one Katharine!!!
I loooved this love story between seemingly bad boy Wes and introverted Larkin. When Larkin starts her sophomore year of college, she’s ready to hit the books, enjoy life with her best friend, and party. She doesn’t expect to fall so hard for the bartender pouring her drinks, but she’s practically cliff jumping after their first meeting of eyes.
Their connection felt real because of the depths of falling for your first love. It’s new, exciting, all-consuming and @kath gives us allllll of that and more.
The Journey Larkin takes to discover herself, and her dreams is lined with palpable brokenness and relatability. Where will it take her, and where will it leave her?
Read if you love:
💙College romance
💙Fractured families
💙First love
Really great job with this one Katharine!!!
May 12, 2022
Oh, Wesley! This is a great read! Bitner’s writing is descriptive and easy and keeps you wondering what will happen next!!
May 7, 2022
This was a book I ARC! It is a must read!!!!! It will hook you immediately
July 16, 2022
This is such a refreshing love story! While there is romance, there is so much personal growth for our female main character. Her journey felt like something that a lot of young women go through and she felt incredibly relatable. I also loved that there was the subplot with her mom and their relationship, which again felt relatable and like one that we don't often get to read about. I was hooked from the start and invested from start to finish. Bitner's writing style is beautiful and poetic. She took me back to my college days and made me feel so nostalgic while also making me feel all sorts of emotions. My favorite romance stories to read are the deeper ones that have more going on than just love and make me feel things, and this one ticks those boxes. I absolutely recommend and cannot wait to see what Bitner writes next!
At 19, Larkin has dedicated her time and energy to doing well in school. She is a bit of an introvert and she's okay with not partying like other kids her age. Now, as a college sophomore shes getting better at getting out there. And when she meets the handsome Wesley, she can't help but be drawn to him. He is everything her mother doesn't want for her, but she knows there is more beneath the surface. What she doesn't expect is a love so strong.
"They all say he is a bad idea, but they don’t know him like I do.
They don’t know how utterly helpless I am against him.
They don’t know what it’s like to finally be seen.
They don’t know what it’s like to destroy yourself,
Just to feel the warmth of someone else's flame.
And they don’t know what it feels like when that flame turns to ash."
Larkin is learning a lot, not only in school but about herself and her feelings. Feelings that are overpowering her and forcing her to look inward and figure out her future in more ways than one.
At 19, Larkin has dedicated her time and energy to doing well in school. She is a bit of an introvert and she's okay with not partying like other kids her age. Now, as a college sophomore shes getting better at getting out there. And when she meets the handsome Wesley, she can't help but be drawn to him. He is everything her mother doesn't want for her, but she knows there is more beneath the surface. What she doesn't expect is a love so strong.
"They all say he is a bad idea, but they don’t know him like I do.
They don’t know how utterly helpless I am against him.
They don’t know what it’s like to finally be seen.
They don’t know what it’s like to destroy yourself,
Just to feel the warmth of someone else's flame.
And they don’t know what it feels like when that flame turns to ash."
Larkin is learning a lot, not only in school but about herself and her feelings. Feelings that are overpowering her and forcing her to look inward and figure out her future in more ways than one.
June 25, 2022
I was expecting this book to be your standard bad boy college romance but it ended up being so much more than that. Katherine did such a wonderful job showcasing what single sided co-dependency (if that's a thing) looks like. I'll be honest I had a really hard time relating to the FMC. I couldn't get over her decisions and wanted to hit her upside the head a time or two. However, there's a quote in the last chapter "It took him leaving for me to see that I had been the toxic one, putting him in the center of my universe. He was my sun and stars, but I was the moon, and I forgot about me." that had the irritation lifting from my chest.
This book put metal health, generational trauma, and self discovery at the forefront. I think it's a great read for a younger generation that might be struggling with finding themselves.
Also, I need more after that epilogue!
June 30, 2022
Great Palette Cleanser with an Amazing Message
Time to Bloom
If you enjoy fairly light-hearted romances, where the leading lady falls into a whirlwind relationship with the town’s bad boy, only to go into a quest of self-discovery - give Time to Bloom a read.
Meet Larkin, the lady with a plan and the grades to back it. A plan that doesn’t involve a man swooping in and popping her sheltered bubble causing her to see things she’s never seen before. Like a drunk father screaming his adult son for a few minutes before tromping back into his house. Or a shoving match between a drunk college dude and a guy who boxes regularly.
And Wes. The man who pops her bubble. One who has a rep as a bad guy because he dresses like a rebel, works at a bar, and has tattoos. Oh, and had an ex-girlfriend who likes to run her mouth.
Time to Bloom is a great palette cleanser for myself. There’s drama that doesn’t go too far. Plenty of laughs mixed with toxic parents. Proper friendships and creepy dudes. Plus, far too many relatable moments.
Time to Bloom
If you enjoy fairly light-hearted romances, where the leading lady falls into a whirlwind relationship with the town’s bad boy, only to go into a quest of self-discovery - give Time to Bloom a read.
Meet Larkin, the lady with a plan and the grades to back it. A plan that doesn’t involve a man swooping in and popping her sheltered bubble causing her to see things she’s never seen before. Like a drunk father screaming his adult son for a few minutes before tromping back into his house. Or a shoving match between a drunk college dude and a guy who boxes regularly.
And Wes. The man who pops her bubble. One who has a rep as a bad guy because he dresses like a rebel, works at a bar, and has tattoos. Oh, and had an ex-girlfriend who likes to run her mouth.
Time to Bloom is a great palette cleanser for myself. There’s drama that doesn’t go too far. Plenty of laughs mixed with toxic parents. Proper friendships and creepy dudes. Plus, far too many relatable moments.
November 7, 2023
Read if you like:
A quick and sweet read
Coming-of-Age Story
Strong friendships
Struggles with balancing school and relationships
Intense "not ready for it" relationship
Swoony-broody tattooed book boyfriend
I flew through this book! Such a sweet coming-of-age story that kept me turning the pages. I love reading about relationships that pop up when you least expect them. I related to the main character from when I was in my twenties in college, navigating school and friends and love and mostly just figuring out who I was meant to be during that weird time in life.
A quick and sweet read
Coming-of-Age Story
Strong friendships
Struggles with balancing school and relationships
Intense "not ready for it" relationship
Swoony-broody tattooed book boyfriend
I flew through this book! Such a sweet coming-of-age story that kept me turning the pages. I love reading about relationships that pop up when you least expect them. I related to the main character from when I was in my twenties in college, navigating school and friends and love and mostly just figuring out who I was meant to be during that weird time in life.
July 1, 2022
teenage love
A college romance with young love vibes. A very easy read with plenty of teenaged emotions. It felt more new adult romance wise with tamer love scenes, which I didn’t mind since the MC stars out around 18/19. Wonderful debut novel!
Spoilers:
I kept waiting for the main love interest to do something crazy bad, but the story was more about normal teenage relationships and I ended with the HAE I was hoping for.
A college romance with young love vibes. A very easy read with plenty of teenaged emotions. It felt more new adult romance wise with tamer love scenes, which I didn’t mind since the MC stars out around 18/19. Wonderful debut novel!
Spoilers:
I kept waiting for the main love interest to do something crazy bad, but the story was more about normal teenage relationships and I ended with the HAE I was hoping for.
August 18, 2022
I usually don’t read books like this, but I couldn’t put it down. The author captured the tortured love perfectly. Like Larkin was all of us when we were young and experiencing how confusing love is for the first time. How it consumes you and pulls you in while you still want to stand strong. I loved these characters. Wesley was everything I wanted as a bad boy when I was younger. This is an incredible read wow.
February 13, 2023
Wonderfully Written and Relatable
Larkin’s character and narrating took a minute to warm up to but when I did I absolutely loved this story. It’s a fresh reminder of how all consuming those first loves can be. While a romance story, I loved the self-reflection and agony the MFC went through and overall was very happy with the ending. It was unexpected but in a good way. Very well done.
Larkin’s character and narrating took a minute to warm up to but when I did I absolutely loved this story. It’s a fresh reminder of how all consuming those first loves can be. While a romance story, I loved the self-reflection and agony the MFC went through and overall was very happy with the ending. It was unexpected but in a good way. Very well done.
June 22, 2022
RomCom movie worthy.
This book was so well done that I flew through the pages! The characters were amazing and the MC’s life was so relatable to anyone who went to college after living in a small town and being the “good and smart girl”
I laughed and cried and I seriously want to see this as a movie because it’s THAT good. It’s definitely on my list of books I’ll reread over and over.
This book was so well done that I flew through the pages! The characters were amazing and the MC’s life was so relatable to anyone who went to college after living in a small town and being the “good and smart girl”
I laughed and cried and I seriously want to see this as a movie because it’s THAT good. It’s definitely on my list of books I’ll reread over and over.
July 7, 2022
Electric
One word: electric. This book is pure electricity. It is extremely well-written, and the characters leap off the page and into your heart, clinging on there almost as thoroughly as they're clinging onto the thoughts of each other in the book. It's spicy, sometimes heart-breaking and beautifully meaningful at the end. You're going to love it.
One word: electric. This book is pure electricity. It is extremely well-written, and the characters leap off the page and into your heart, clinging on there almost as thoroughly as they're clinging onto the thoughts of each other in the book. It's spicy, sometimes heart-breaking and beautifully meaningful at the end. You're going to love it.
Want to read
December 2, 2022I gave this book 3.5 stars but It wouldn't be fair to rate it a 3 so I'm going with 4. It was a cute well written story. My review is simply based on my own opinion, Don't get me wrong, it wasn't bad, it just wasn't one that hit strongly with me. I did enjoy it and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a well written college love story.
September 25, 2023
This was quick, easy, reminiscent college romance. Lark is a relatable and likes me character. I appreciate dhow the author highlighted the reality of young love, and how many of us need significant time to become who we are meant to be before we can properly exist in a relationship. Overall great little story, I’ll certainly be keeping my eye on this author!!
October 20, 2023
I found this author on tik tok and was so impressed with this book. The story line of becoming enamored with your first college love is so relatable. The author presented this love story with such a real heartfelt touch. I can't wait to read more from this author and I can't believe this is her debut novel. What a talent!
July 2, 2022
I really enjoyed this new adult romance. Brought me back to my college days. I forgot how dramatic college kids can be, but it all came flooding back. Larkin's "voice" was so perfect for that age. I will definitely check out more books by this author!
September 18, 2022
First loves can be intense and this novel really captures that. It's a novel I wish I had in my early 20s. This book definitely took me back. Great read.
October 27, 2022
That love you had when you were younger… this book nails it. Simple, relatable and a little bit heartbreaking. Great read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews