Full Bloom

by Francesca Serritella

The power to be seen. The power to be heard. The power to be adored. . .

A woman's life is forever changed by a mysterious perfume in this stunning novel about ambition and untapped desire from the New York Times bestselling author of Ghosts of Harvard.

Reeling from a breakup and overlooked at her job as a lighting designer, Iris Sunnegren finds herself stuck, disconnected, and lonely in crowded New York City. Her wealthy friends are married and having babies, while she’s trying to pay for freezing her eggs. And the future she longs for feels out of reach.

Then, a mysterious neighbor, an older Frenchwoman, makes her a a bespoke perfume.

One spritz, a dab behind the ears, and Iris is a different woman. Suddenly, she is the object of every man’s desire, and she can satisfy her own hungers for sex, love, and ambition. She can cast off her inhibitions and use her newfound allure to dazzle the high-profile client, attract a man who excites her like no other, and access all the rarified spaces that once excluded her. Under the perfume’s heady spell, Iris embodies her maximum power—a flower fully bloomed.

But there is danger in connecting to our primal emotions. Scent awakens buried memories, and nightmares of the childhood house fire she barely survived return to haunt her. As Iris ventures deeper into the glamorous and male-dominated worlds of New York real estate, dimly-lit steakhouses, and beachfront mansions in the Hamptons, she finds herself getting closer to unspeakable truths—about the people she trusted, about the people she loved, and about the new circle of power-players that invited her in.

A sensual and seductive novel set among the upper echelons of New York City, Full Bloom is at once a poignant story of becoming and a riveting mystery that Who are you without your inhibitions? Does being wanted get what you want, or will you be devoured by desire?

“Francesca Serritella is a literary wonder. Atmospheric and lush, Serritella’s elegant prose includes a top note of originality, a middle note of pure heart, and a base note of self-discovery. A sensory feast for readers everywhere.”—Adriana Trigiani, New York Times bestselling author of The View from Lake Como

Genres: Fiction, Magical Realism, Mystery, Romance, Contemporary, Audiobook, Literary Fiction

416 pages, Hardcover

First published August 5, 2025

About the author

Francesca Serritella is the New York Times bestselling author of Ghosts of Harvard, nominated for Best First Novel by International Thriller Writers, and a nine-book series of essay collections co-written with her mother, author Lisa Scottoline, based on their Sunday column in The Philadelphia Inquirer. Serritella graduated cum laude from Harvard University, where she won multiple awards for her fiction, including the Thomas T. Hoopes Prize. She lives in New York City with her eighteen-year-old cat and her new puppy.

Reviews

[Hades ( Disney's version ) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok everybody. I'm going to need the ENTIRE class to pay attention, for this is not a drill!

Reading this book feels like driving with the top down at sunset along a back road with a beach on the left and endless orange groves on the right with a SZA song playing in the background.. 😭🤌🏻🤌🏻🫠 just an ENTIRE vibeeeeeeeee ❤️

I am extremely jealous of people who get to experience this one for the first time and I really, REALLY wouldn't mind seeing it adapted into a movie.

THIS ISN'T EVEN THE KIND OF BOOK I USUALLY READ!!.. Not even a little. I have always been a self proclaimed "dark" girlie & therefore usually like my reads to follow suit.. I just couldn't help getting roped into this book from the SECOND I laid my eyes on it.. Before I even read the first WORD..As if the author herself has created her own magical aroma.

Unlike a lot of people I don't always dislike when I'm wrong, sometimes I thoroughly enjoy it. Every single time I thought I knew what was happening in this book I was dead wrong and I LOVE THAT FOR ME!! Loved the surprises along the way, loved that it wasn't predictable.. I never think perfection should be rushed, but I think if it had come out a little sooner there's absolutely no way this book wouldn't be THE read of the summer !! Although even as I say this, I can see where this would also be the PERFECT end of summer/ beginning of fall read. while the world around us is getting ready to shed it's old self in order to start a new, so is our FMC. 🥹🫶🏻

[Shantha (ShanthasBookEra) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

"The power to be seen. The power to be heard. The power to be adored. . .
A woman's life is forever changed by a mysterious perfume in this stunning novel about ambition and untapped desire."

Iris Sennegren is thirty-five and feels her life is at a standstill. Her fiance left her six months ago, and her boss refuses to promote her. Desiring a family, when all her friends are married and having babies, Iris decides to freeze her eggs - an intense process of preparation and retrieval. She visits her friend Mme. Rapacine, who gives her a bespoke perfume she created specifically for her. The perfume seems to make everything in her life better - men notice her, career opportunities abound, and she feels more confident. What is responsible for Iris blooming under the spell of this perfume?

I don't want to go further because it's best to go into this with all your senses and very little information. This is an intoxicating and bingeable read. It's listed as romance, which is an element along with literary fiction, magical realism, and mystery. I love how Iris grows in confidence as she discovers more about who she is and what she desires in life to create her happiness. The prose is sensual and beautiful and deepened my appreciation for the power of fragrance. Does it create confidence, or does one feel more confident wearing it? That's for you to decide. And that cover! I can't think of a more lush, stunning, and vibrant cover that matches the beauty of the story unfolding in its pages.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Ballantine Books, and Francesca Serritella for an advance reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.💐💐💐

[Meagan✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Scent speaks in every language. It is made of flesh and personal impressions. It is tied up with the need to feel alive, a need everyone senses from an early age. The need to live is also a need for perfumes and scents. Inescapably. They are the depositories of our deepest secrets, whether we like it or not”

As someone who spends way too much time sniffing perfume strips and hunting down niche fragrance decants, the concept of a magical perfume was an instant “yes” for me. 🪄💐 Perfumery is one of my favorite hobbies, so I was hooked before I even cracked open the first page. Not only did I get a juicy, enchanting story, but I actually learned so much about perfume notes, blending, and the intoxicating world of scent along the way.

This book swept me up completely I was fully immersed in Iris’s journey. 💭 Iris is in that in-between stage of life: all her friends are getting married, having babies, and ticking off life milestones, while she’s hustling to pay for freezing her eggs. Then she meets an older Frenchwoman mysterious, elegant, and instantly magnetic and the two form an unexpected friendship. After confiding in her about her struggles, Iris is gifted a perfume unlike any other. One spritz, and her confidence skyrockets suddenly she’s the object of every man’s desire. More importantly, she’s finally in control of her own hunger for sex, love, and ambition.

A story about friendship, desire, transformation, and the alchemy of scent Full Bloom was decadent, alluring, and unlike anything I’ve read before. If you love books that feel like they could be bottled and worn, this one belongs on your shelf. 🌸💋

“Then a voluptuous floral heart. Tuberose, la fleur charnelle, the carnal flower, whose narcotic femininity was once believed to be so powerful that it could send young women into spontaneous orgasm if they smelled it after dark.”

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were moments I thought I would like this book. I had read about the use of magical realism, and that usually is a go-to-escape read for me. Because who wouldn’t be intrigued about the possibility that a perfume made especially for them could change their life, and manifest everything they ever thought they needed or wanted?

“…This is no ordinary perfume. …It is extraordinary. It will change your life. It is untitled. It is your story to write.”

And, I loved that Iris, our main protagonist, the receiver of said perfume, also had a cute dog, named Hugo that everyone seemed to adore and gravitate to – of course! But Iris, just seemed to find herself in so many situations and circumstances that were questionable at best, that even magical realism couldn’t seem to save the storyline from being a bit exasperating (for me).

And, even as I went back to the point of how the perfume could make a difference, I really wondered if she would have eventually found her confidence on her own, by just believing in herself in the first place.

“I want you to feel your power and to show the world what you’re capable of. But above all, I want you to get what you want.”

At what price, Iris? At what price, readers?

Because, the number of subplots with difficult social issues – sexual harassment, drug use, sexual abuse, jealousy amongst women, seemed a bit over-the-top, as well. Still, having said all this, I could be an outlier.

Also, on the possible good side, with these kinds of topics, it certainly opens the door for great discussions in book groups. And, sometimes, even books that don’t get the greatest star ratings, are still extraordinary discussion books.

Please also consider other reviews.

[Meagan (Meagansbookclub) · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, the cover alone grabbed my attention and then when I heard Saskia Maarleveld was the narrator, I was sold.

I have so many thoughts about this book and I cannot make sense of it. The plot felt way more magical realism than the reality. The perfume that was made for the main character, had that mystery element where when she wore it, she thought there was power in getting her way. But as we moved through the story, she kept second guessing herself, but we really didn’t get more from the magical realism element of the perfume. The neighbor woman was so intriguing for me and I think if the author focused on the relationship between the neighbor who made the perfume, and a plot that had more focus, the book would have been really fun.

The author had a lot of themes across the board that honestly felt a bit disjointed rather than cohesive. There was a heavy amount of the main character wanting to freeze her eggs and fertility struggles, the glass blowing from her love interest (this was a deep dive but also meaningless??), childhood trauma, and the housing and real estate issues. The book felt like a strange grab bag of topics that the author needed to address, but not really flesh out or connect.

I think the author fell into the common trap of trying to do too much which left the readers detached from anyone or any piece to the overall story. I didn’t dislike the story, but it definitely lacked cohesion and depth.

Probably more like a 2.5 total rating but 3 for Saskia and her narrating skills.

[Denise Ruttan · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I was skeptical about a romance that covered 416 pages. I prefer my romances to be shorter books because I start to lose interest in the couple or start finding fault with their relationship without other subplots. But this was so much more than a romance and not really a romance at all, in that it didn't have a conventional HEA where you were sure that the couple gets a future together. But in fact I loved that about this book and was hoping that it wouldn't be a conventional romance. It is better categorized as women's fiction.

Iris is a woman in hiding, just broken up with by the longtime boyfriend she thought she was going to marry and start a family with. At 35, desperate for a family of her own, she freezes her eggs. At work as an architectural lighting designer, she is routinely passed over for career advancement and constantly subjected to sexist comments at the boys' club of her firm. I loved the insight into an unconventional profession and how it complemented the social impact of perfumery so well.

Her fiery neighbor, Madame Rapacine, offers her a way out of her problems. A perfume especially designed for her. But the perfume has a bit of magic - it makes her more desirable toward the opposite sex and increases her confidence. I loved how the author's love of perfumery and how scent memories shape our lives shone through the story.

Newly emboldened, this is not so much a romance as Iris getting her groove back. I was never sure which love interest she'd end up with, and none of the men seemed good enough for her so I was glad for the ending where Iris was empowered to make her own choices, come what may. The hot but arrogant billionaire that offers her a new job as she's working on his contract. The hot glassblower who didn't stick up for her at a work event. The neighbor she flirts with in the laundry room, her work husband coworker, even her ex. I was secretly hoping she'd end up with none of them and was pleasantly surprised that Iris got her HEA without a solid future with a man. This book made a bold choice and I loved that.

I love watching competent people at work and I enjoyed the scenes of Iris's competence as a lighting designer and Gabe's competence as a glass blower.

Full of a cast of colorful characters, also begging the question of "why are men," this book was quite ambitious, covering wide-ranging topics like the housing crisis as Iris learns deeper truths about herself as she pushes the boundaries of her sexuality. Perhaps too ambitious at times but its strength was in character development.

At times the writing style was a little too in love with comma splices but I loved the vivid descriptions it painted. I was always engaged during those 416 pages and rooting for Iris to pick herself.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced e-book copy from NetGalley for my honest review.

4.5 🌟
I have always loved magical realism novels, the idea that fantasy and reality can intertwine feels almost within reach. But in Full Bloom, the idea of magic is bottled and worn, and it is such a captivating possibility. It isn't actual fantastical magic, but instead, a reality where the wearer of a perfume made just for them becomes self assured in a life-altering way. I really love this idea, such a unique idea for a novel.
We meet Iris at a time in her life when she seems to be in a downward spiral. She has lost love and is approaching middle age without her dreams of a family. Her career is also stagnant. A perfume made by a unique friend changes things for her, opening a new world of possibility. I was intrigued by the people (and men) Iris meets while wearing her perfume, and the strong woman she becomes along the way.
I enjoyed the ending, and several plot lines are tied up nicely. But I was left wanting more from Iris's potential love story-- maybe another book in the works?

[jordan · Rating 2 out of 5]

finally free of this book. wrath filled review to come.

There were many things I struggled with in this book, and I think its largest issue was that it was trying to cover far too many things. Some topics I found interesting, like NYC's housing problems, the political impacts of real estate, and Iris's fertility struggles. But on top of this, the author shoved rants on perfumes, glass blowing, infidelity, (including by the MC...what?), and childhood trauma. The infidelity is also...excused? Both times? There was simply too much! There were simply too many MEN in Iris's life- I couldn't tell who the love interest was definitively meant to be until like 55% in. This is the side effect of a perfume Iris is gifted- it magically attracts people to her, including men. (The explanation of the "magical realism" is essentially nonexistent.) An interesting idea...one that should be the focus of its own book. I felt like Full Bloom is trying to be a romance, a thriller, and literary fiction all at once, while I think the individual plots that fit those genres could have been better explored in their own novels. If there was anything I liked about this book, I guess it surprised me a few times with plot twists around the 70% mark. But unfortunately, overall, I found reading it to be a chore.

Thank you to Ballantine books for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Stacy40pages · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full Bloom by Francesca Serritella. Thanks to @randomhouse #ballantinebooks for the gifted Arc and perfume ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A young woman’s New York life is changed by the power of a perfume she’s gifted.

I love books like this where there’s a lot of different genres combined. There’s a lot to this one but it makes it more realistic because that’s how life is. I really enjoyed it and for a long book, it reads very fast. Anyone who enjoys the power of scent and new adult stories, will enjoy this one.

“When you connect to your sense of smell, you awaken your body’s intelligence, its desires, its repulsions, its instincts, its memory.”

Full Bloom comes out 8/5.

[Marisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coming in August 2025… FULL BLOOM is a novel that is worth a read of all 416 pages and I hope that Serritella gets the praise she deserves.

First of all, the cover is so beautiful- rich, inviting and delightful to the senses. The title itself leads readers to question what they are getting - a coming of age story? Magical realism? Both???

When I read the synopsis I was delighted to see that three of my favorite genres were being combined for this novel- literary fiction, magical realism and thriller. Having met Francesca Serritella in a few occasions, having absolutely LOVED her debut novel Ghosts of Harvard (read it!) I knew that this book would be a fun read but also packed with lyrical writing and emotion. It did not disappoint. There were more than a few paragraphs I had to read over to just fully capture their meaning, my kindle has highlights all over from the poignantly written words.

I loved the character of Iris, from the beginning I was rooting for her and continued to do so through her story and self discovery


I loved this novel and can’t wait to have others read it!!!!!

[Ellen Shaffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was wonderful. It's premise really wowed me. A 35 year old woman is down on her luck. She is inspired by a neighbor, who develops a perfume that will establish opportunities that transform her life for the better. Just by the alluring scent. Was it only because of the perfume that things worked out for her? Or was it the perfume that gave her the confidence to surrender to the person she formerly was, into a self-realized and successful human being? You'll have to read this to find out!

[Sara Dorn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmm… I expected from the description of this book to really like it but omg it was the maybe most random story I’ve ever read. It seemed like the author wanted to show off their knowledge of certain topics (glass blowing, perfume making, egg retrieval, the Giglio carrying, architecture) by diving really deep into a certain subject with a lot of wordy detail for a few pages or a few times throughout the story. When in reality, I didn’t really care about those deep dives and would skim through them because they didn’t really matter to the story. It also seemed like the author tried to pull in multiple subjects that are topics of controversy in politics. While I am supporter of all of the topics in the book, I just found it to be like trying too hard rather than fitting in the story.
The perfume, as mentioned in the book summary / description, “changes” Iris’ life but I felt like Iris would turn around and attribute the randomest, least-related thing to the “magic of her perfume”. There were so many characters throughout the book. I thought it was pretty silly. I finished the book somewhat quickly as like it wasn’t terribly written so I’ve given it 3-stars but if you know me it’s a far cry from my normal 5-star reviews. The storyline was just too all over the place for me to love.

[Christine M in Texas (stamperlady50) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful novel. Still processing, because I loved this one and the meaning behind it.

[Ellen Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Wow- such a powerful and seductive story. Iris is a very relatable character for me and I absolutely adore her character. Of course the past haunts us all and she is no different. It was fascinating to see how she acted as an empowered woman while still coping with her past and figuring out what truly makes her happy in the present. The title of this book is so fitting.

[note_worthy_novels · Rating 2 out of 5]

Is it too harsh to say that the only things I liked in this book were the cover and the characters’ pets? As always, I do still appreciate the ARC from NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and all opinions are my own.

Full Bloom follows Iris, a 35-year-old woman who’s just been broken up with and rejected for a deserved promotion, all while trying to freeze her eggs and take care of her pregnant best friend, Hannah. For Iris’s birthday, her older neighbor, the elusive and alluring Madame Rapacine, gives her a unique perfume that will change Iris’s life. It will make every man (and some women) do anything for and to her, give Iris confidence she’s never had, and open doors she never knew existed. But, behind these exclusive doors follows danger and the threat of scrambling Iris’s entire life.

The entire book is a sort of Monkey’s Paw retelling. Iris uses the perfume to get what she wants and finds that not every wish should be granted, as they often backfire. It’s a relatively creative method to repeat an old idea, and I appreciated that the magic of the perfume is never fully explained. It’s described as unlocking the base instincts of anyone who smells it, but no real rules or scientific explanations beyond that are offered, which adds to its mystique and avoids the risk of plot holes or fallacies. Madame Rapacine is an interesting character due to her eccentricity, and I wish she had been the main character instead of Iris.

Iris is not a particularly interesting main character for this story. She’s clearly meant to be relatable. She’s older than your typical protagonist, has an average job, and has no particularly unique character traits.

Having a relatable main character is fine, but they still need to be interesting. Iris wasn’t, and the plot always happened to her, rather than her doing anything about it. She was given this magical perfume, men flock to her, and she basically says, “Sure, you’re hot,” and hooks up with some of them, accepts a new job (that she got partially because of this perfume), and asks other people to help a friend’s family. Using magic just to get laid and work for a different company is BORING. Sure, it may be more realistic and relatable, but it’s not interesting, and that’s ultimately what matters most in a book. There’s a separate character mentioned who started in a similar, or even worse place than Iris, then used her perfume to help her become a celebrity. Would it be what everyone would do? No, but that makes for a more engaging story.

Iris also wasn’t particularly likable to me. I felt sympathetic for her, but one of the first things she does is complain about being tossed aside by her ex-boyfriend, then turns around and hooks up with a guy, only for him to never be mentioned again. She comes across as a tad hypocritical. She also cheats on multiple occasions, once with her boss, which just doesn’t make me cheer for you. She comes across as whiny and never does anything about her situation besides put some perfume on.

Her various love interests (yes, there are multiple) are kind of boring. Gabe is sweet but forgettable and should’ve kept running when he had the chance. Her boss reminded me of Hans from Frozen, just evil to be evil, and had pretty boring motivations. Ben was frustrating but also forgettable.
Iris’s friends were realistic, if not overly memorable. Hannah was likable (until it was revealed that she’s lowkey racist, and Iris just kinda laughed it off, that was shocking). Her husband sucked. Iris’s other friends, a gay couple, felt flat, other than an out-of-touch request, which was kind of swept over. There were a lot of other brief side characters, which kept the pace moving, but also made me feel like none of the characters had any real importance. Most of them could’ve been skipped, and I think the story would’ve been improved, as it had so many different plot lines that mostly felt half-baked.

This was especially evident at the end, where the pacing is thrown way off. The book had a pretty steady medium pace until the end, when it kicked into high gear and suddenly became an action/political/mafia thriller.

It didn’t really match the tone or pace of the rest of the book, and felt like the author just needed a way to make up for the lack of interest the first three quarters of the book would generate. It came out of nowhere, hastily tried to tie some of the random plot threads together, and left me with whiplash.

Since Iris had multiple love interests, there were quite a few spicier scenes that all felt out of place and unromantic. Those felt slightly disjointed from the tone of the book. If your whole focus is on how animalistic and sexy this perfume is, write better spice, or don’t write it at all. It always felt shoved in and random, which just added to page length and nothing else.

The story was confusing, somehow overwhelming and underwhelming all at once, too ambitious for its own good, and not worth the read.

[The Bookish Elf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Francesca Serritella crafts a mesmerizing tale of transformation and self-discovery in Full Bloom, a novel that seductively blends magical realism with contemporary women's fiction. Following her acclaimed debut Ghosts of Harvard, Serritella demonstrates remarkable range by diving into the intoxicating world of perfume and the dangerous allure of manufactured confidence.

The novel follows Iris Sunnegren, a thirty-five-year-old lighting designer trapped in professional stagnation and romantic disappointment. Fresh from a devastating breakup with her long-term partner Ben, Iris finds herself overlooked at work while watching her friends achieve the traditional milestones that seem perpetually out of reach. Serritella skillfully establishes Iris as an everywoman figure whose struggles with imposter syndrome and self-doubt will resonate deeply with readers navigating similar life transitions.

The Mysterious Gift of Transformation

The catalyst for change arrives through Mireille Rapacine, Iris's enigmatic French neighbor who emerges as one of fiction's most compelling characters. A retired master perfumer with a dark past, Rapacine creates a bespoke fragrance that promises to unlock Iris's hidden potential. Serritella's portrayal of the perfume-making process reveals extensive research into the art of fragrance composition, lending authenticity to the magical elements without sacrificing believability.

The perfume itself becomes a character in the story—a mysterious elixir that amplifies desire and confidence while raising profound questions about authenticity and empowerment. Serritella wisely avoids oversimplifying the perfume's effects, instead exploring how it serves as both liberation and potential trap for women seeking agency in a male-dominated world.

A Dangerous Dance with Power

As Iris discovers her newfound magnetism, Serritella expertly navigates the complex terrain between empowerment and exploitation. The author's background as the daughter of bestselling novelist Lisa Scottoline shows in her sophisticated understanding of character development and moral complexity. Iris's professional breakthrough with charismatic real estate mogul Jonathan Wolff showcases Serritella's keen insight into workplace dynamics and the uncomfortable reality of how attractiveness can influence career advancement.

The relationship between Iris and Wolff crackles with tension, though Serritella maintains careful ambiguity about whether their connection stems from genuine compatibility or the perfume's influence. This uncertainty becomes the novel's driving force, creating sustained dramatic tension that keeps readers questioning every interaction and motivation.

Complex Romantic Entanglements

Equally compelling is Iris's relationship with Gabe DiDonato, a talented glass artist whose working-class background contrasts sharply with Wolff's elite world. Serritella crafts their romance with particular nuance, exploring how class differences and economic insecurity can undermine even passionate connections. Gabe emerges as a fully realized character rather than a simple romantic foil, his artistic integrity and emotional honesty providing counterpoint to the novel's themes of artifice and manipulation.

The author demonstrates remarkable skill in depicting physical attraction and sexual tension without resorting to cliché. The scenes between Iris and Gabe pulse with authentic chemistry, while her complicated feelings toward Wolff simmer with dangerous possibility. Serritella understands that true sexual tension often lies in what remains unspoken and unexpressed.

Shadows from the Past

Perhaps the novel's greatest strength lies in its gradual revelation of trauma's lasting impact on identity formation. Iris's childhood survival of a house fire that killed her parents adds psychological depth to her character's fear of taking risks and claiming power. Serritella handles this backstory with exceptional sensitivity, avoiding exploitation while demonstrating how early trauma can shape adult behavior patterns.

The revelation of cousin Jacob's role in Iris's survival—and his subsequent struggle with addiction—adds layers of guilt and obligation that feel genuinely earned rather than manufactured for dramatic effect. These elements elevate the novel beyond simple wish fulfillment into something more psychologically complex and emotionally resonant.

Critiques and Considerations

While Full Bloom succeeds admirably in most respects, certain elements feel less fully developed. Some secondary characters, particularly Iris's friends Hannah and Roman, occasionally serve more as plot devices than fully realized individuals. The pacing in the middle section sometimes feels rushed, with Iris's professional and romantic developments happening almost too quickly to feel entirely believable.

Additionally, while Serritella's research into perfumery is impressive, some readers may find the magical realism elements clash with the otherwise grounded contemporary setting. The perfume's powers sometimes feel inconsistent, working more or less effectively as the plot demands rather than following clearly established rules.

The novel's exploration of female ambition and desire occasionally veers toward didactic territory, though Serritella's skill with character development generally prevents this from becoming problematic. Some critics might argue that the book's focus on physical transformation as a path to empowerment sends mixed messages about female agency and authentic self-expression.

Thematic Richness and Social Commentary

Despite these minor shortcomings, Full Bloom succeeds as both entertaining fiction and thoughtful social commentary. Serritella demonstrates sophisticated understanding of contemporary women's experiences, from fertility concerns to workplace discrimination to the complex navigation of power dynamics in romantic relationships. The novel's examination of how society values female beauty and sexuality while simultaneously punishing women for leveraging these assets feels particularly relevant.

The perfume serves as an elegant metaphor for the artificial enhancements many women feel pressured to employ—from cosmetic procedures to personality adjustments—in order to succeed in a world that demands both authenticity and perfection. Serritella's refusal to provide easy answers about whether such strategies represent empowerment or capitulation demonstrates admirable moral complexity.

Final Verdict

Full Bloom establishes Francesca Serritella as a significant voice in contemporary women's fiction, demonstrating remarkable growth from her already impressive debut. While the novel occasionally struggles with balancing its magical elements against its realistic foundation, it succeeds admirably as both escapist entertainment and thoughtful exploration of female empowerment's complexities.

Serritella's sophisticated understanding of perfume as both literal craft and metaphorical device creates a unique reading experience that lingers long after the final page. The novel's refusal to provide simple answers about authenticity, desire, and power reflects an author unafraid to grapple with difficult questions about what it means to be a woman seeking fulfillment in contemporary society.

For readers seeking intelligent escapism that doesn't sacrifice psychological depth or social awareness, Full Bloom delivers an intoxicating blend of romance, suspense, and self-discovery. Serritella has created a seductive page-turner that manages to be both deeply satisfying and genuinely thought-provoking—a rare achievement in contemporary fiction.

[Emma Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

full bloom by francesca serritella, which has a publish date of 8/5💐⬇️

if you like:
✨perfume, and the romanticization of scent
✨books with feminist themes
✨a sassy, old lady side character
✨women in stem (ish)
✨a romance with multiple potential love interests
then you may like this book!

this story follows iris, who, at 35, is a bit lost. she’s recently out of a long term relationship and because of that, is exploring the process of freezing her eggs. she’s plateaued at work too, waiting for a promotion that she’s deserved for years. but when her neighbor gifts her a perfume unique to iris herself, it changes her life in magical ways she couldn’t have even imagined.

this book had me in alllllll my feels, right off the bat! i felt so sorry for iris, as she was newly single, struggling with her fertility while trying to celebrate her pregnant friend. i giggled at sassy madame rapacine’s ruthless frankness (but also secretly wish i could know her in real life!!!!). i was so giddy over iris’s meet cute. i was angry in general at men, and men who abuse their power to control women (this was a really big theme in this book, and i want to scream for all the women who have experienced anything similar to what happens in this story).

i’ve never read anything that explores scent so deeply. and not in a scientific way, but in a romantic way, in an emotional way. the writing in this story was beautiful and really tragic at times because of the themes it covers.

the only thing that kept me from giving this a higher rating was that, towards the end, i started to feel like this book was trying to do too much. but the end was satisfying to me still, an i thoroughly enjoyed it!

giving this one 3.5⭐️s, and keep an eye out for this to hit shelves on 8/5!

[Nicole Clapp · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC!

I’m so bummed to say this book didn’t work for me. I didn’t connect with Iris and wasn’t sold on the magical realism.

The storylines felt really disconnected to me and left me wondering what the point of the story was. I didn’t understand what I was supposed to glean from the story.

I didn’t find Iris to have much growth over the course of the story. I was also so disappointed that Mike was redeemed in the end, and Hannah’s racist comments were brushed over! That was crazy to me.

I did like the Wolff Dev plotline but it felt like it had nothing to do with anything else. That should’ve been the main focus of the story with the rest of the fluff cut out.

I love fragrance and the power of it but the way it was woven into the story didn’t feel authentic. I wanted Iris to have some real introspection about its impact but that fell short for me. Her story was both so deep but glossed over. I’m just confused.

Overall the book was too disjointed for my taste.

[Lexi Helton]

I don't know what I want to rate this yet... 2? 2.5? 3? 3.5? Somewhere around that range. Why, you may ask? Take a walk with me...

There's a few things that confuse me on how I feel about this book. The plot - 80% of it was basically a slow melody of "How far can Iris push the bounds of her, new magical perfume?" And the remaining 20% was just Trauma, deep rooted and new. I was sort of bored out of my mind for a while and then 3/4s of the way in I was interested... in a plot that came OUT OF LEFT FIELD!? I mean COME ON!? I do think Chapter 50 dulled the book immensely as the content was extremely triggering for me. Regardless of a content warning or not, I was not prepared to go from 'Light-hearted and intriguing' to 'Very uncomfortable very fast.' But as someone who could relate to the situation, I may just be bias.

The characters - The ex Ben? You are the epitome of an ex everyone has experienced and never wants to experience again. The new boyfriend (whose name skips my mind) Greg? George? Idk. I sometimes felt for him, and other times wanted to flap a red flag in Iris' face. The Hampton scene made me not like him and he barely won that trust back. The new Wolff boss guy? Ok evil wolf of Wall Street, villain billionaire. I'm unimpressed, and annoyed that's how you turned out, for a second there, I thought you were going to be end game, good riddance. Iris? I don't like you. You cheat multiple times, don't accept responsibility when you should, and bear with me on this part: Whether or not the perfume really is magical, you believe it is. And you knowingly use this gift to manipulate/coerce men into end with you. Whether or not it's true, you believe it's true, and use this to your advantage. NO THANK YOU. Because if she was the victim of someone using this manipulation on her, she would, rightfully, be outraged. This is a whole thing I could explain deeper if I really wanted to, but if you see what I'm saying, just know this whole thing left a constant bad taste in my mouth. Like she's basically drugging people into doing her bidding... but moving on. The two best friends? Okay, cool, they were there, had their moments, the end. The assistant to the boss, Marilyn? Nahhhh I hate you. You are so backhanded, and think you're progressing the feminist movement... you're not. You're just a terrible person.

Now our little perfume lady who makes everything, she's adorable and I love her. I want to know everything about her life, her story. She was the only way I could listen to these looooong scent descriptions. Because if I have to read ONE MORE paragraph about the scent of some perfume, I'm going to go insane.

All-in-all, I just didn't connect with the story or the characters which makes my inevitable rating so low. The author writes beautifully, no doubt. But it's not my cup of tea and I'm kind of just glad I'm finished with it. :)

[Edie · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I read this, a tune from a 1940 musical, Pal Joey, kept repeating in my mind. (It also became a 1957 movie that sometimes plays on TCM.)

The tune is “Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered” & it is on my Spotify w/such vocal greats as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald & Doris Day among others! If a song could accompany a book!

While I love old movies (bec’ of my Mother), I especially love new books by this author.

I knew Full Bloom had something to do w/fragrance, but this is about being gifted power, control & appeal over others - by the sense of smell. This concoction is all contained within a petite jade green crystal decanter w/the frosted wings of a mysterious creature.

The devil is surely in the details here! The protagonist, Iris, has to weigh the certain negatives that accompany this imaginary suit of armor she was gifted by an older & wiser female friend.

Not only is it a tale about a young woman who can wield this power at her desire, but she has to balance it all while meeting the demands of being in her prime years in NYC . That means complicated lovers, deep friendships, rollercoaster flashbacks & a work life where men are still given prizes for failing/women are told to play nice & try harder.

By the time I finished the last page today, I was far more knowledgeable about the science & psychology of fragrances. You’ll remember fragrances from long ago as you read, too. I still have not forgiven Ralph Lauren for discontinuing “Lauren” in the burgundy square bottle :-)

I especially enjoy the research this author does when writing. She is the one out there getting her hands dirty (truly) plus traveling the globe to get the facts.

Bec’ I read Full Bloom, you can now ask me about such subjects as how natural & artificial lighting effects every space of our lives, the lengthy & painful process of IVF, the artistry of glassblowing which still seems like magic & the crisis that exists day in/day out for public housing in the US.

It has been a long time since I bought this author’s last book (May 2020) & it was worth the wait. Bless your dear Pip who lives on in these pages & many hearts.

Thank you from Edie in SW Florida!

[Athena 💗 · Rating 2 out of 5]

My love affair for this book first started the moment I set eyes on this gorgeous cover. Unfortunately, that is where my love affair began and ended. The writing wasn’t bad and there were even moments that had me reaching for my highlighter to annotate inspiring lines. The actual storytelling however was all over the place. It felt like the author didn’t know whether she was coming or going and I had no idea where my attention needed to be focused while reading. A bunch of different things were shoved into the book but never really flowed with the story. I received this as an ARC and really wanted to give this book my all so that I could write it a credible review but here I am at the end of the book and I’m not even totally sure what I just read. I liked the magical realism of the perfume and Iris eventually coming to realize it is her faith in herself that has the power to change her circumstances. But if that is the entire message of the book it felt overshadowed by the random things thrown into the story. It’s gonna be 2.5⭐️ for me because the writing was decent and there were parts where I was invested in the story eager to see where it went.

[Lori Boyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Iris is tired of being overlooked at work and is reeling from a recent break-up. When she stops in to check on her older neighbor, she is gifted with a bottle of perfume, made especially for her. Suddenly, she feels noticed, wanted and seen. Does the perfume have magic qualities or is Iris finally finding her confidence and realizing her worth?

I loved this author’s first novel, Ghosts of Harvard, so I jumped at the chance to read this one. Not going to lie, it did start a little slow for me, but once it took off, I flew thru it. It was very well written and researched. There is a lot happening in this book, it was so different than I expected. I wasn’t a fan of Iris at the beginning and it did take me awhile to come around, but I appreciated her development and the strong woman she became. This book has a little bit of everything…romance with a little spice, mystery and some magical realism thrown in. The ending was wrapped up a little too quickly for the length of the book. The beautiful cover is so appropriate for this book. I can’t wait to see what this author comes up with next.

Thanks to BallantineBooks and Netgalley for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.

[Reyna M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the arc!

**5 STARS!!** This was such a phenomenal read and will have you tickling in your senses. This was everything.

Set in NYC, we follow 35-year-old, Iris Sunnegren post breakup and very much in her identity crisis and feeling lonely phase. Iris’ friends are all at the point of marriage and making children while she struggles to find means to pay for freezing her eggs in hopes to chase that happy, fulfilled life she wants. Then one day, her quirky, French, parfumeur neighbor gifts her a bespoke perfume. While using the perfume, Iris finds a new found confidence where she becomes the object of many men’s desire and suddenly her life is finally making a turn for the better as long as she wears this perfume. With the new power she discovers, Iris struggles to discern what is real and what is the result of this alluring perfume.

I absolutely DEVOURED this book. As a perfume collector, I appreciated the author’s perfumery knowledge and the little spritzes of fragrance throughout the book. It felt like sensory overload and I love the focus of smell chemistry–it was delicious. Though this is marketed as a romance, it felt more of a “coming back to life” and finding her best self journey with new connections that have palpable chemistry. It was inspiring to read and I was rooting for her happily ever after.

It’s always good when an author elicits strong physical reactions from myself especially because Iris is refreshingly real and many will find at least one (or few) attribute relatable. The secondhand frustration and embarrassment was real. It was a great representation of young adults feeling alone and lost in a big bustling city. The ending was also so sinister, it kept me on my toes.

This borders on being a magic realism novel but it gets you thinking that maybe it’s all in our heads? Because it’s too good to be true? The best novels out there teach you that life is never linear and that we in turn, can have a different happy outcome. If you are big on scents, you will absolutely enjoy this. Please read this!!

[vmndetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

i'm giving this book 4 stars just because the cover, the writing style, and because i can. i was already hooked from the moment i read the prologue. i thought, there was something different about this book. and i was right.

as i kept reading, i felt like this book has its own uniqueness. you see, writing style is very important to me, and this book nailed it. not only because we can feel the magical realism vibes through the narration, but also because the narration itself is witty. well, at least for me. i found it very entertaining.

the only weakness of this book is that sometimes some characters talk too long about a topic that doesn't really need to be explained that much. it's not a problem for some people, but sometimes i just skipped it. so, yeah ... that was it. but—

this book is definitely a reread material fr.

thank you netgalley for the copy of this book.

[Savannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly this was just not what I was expecting it to be. I wanted more from the magical perfume and like, her using that to become a girl boss or something. It was less about the perfume and how it was affecting her life and more about how shitty everyone was.

Admittedly I have since forgotten everything about this which is fine but I can remember that almost everyone was unlikeable. Iris made some dumb decisions, her friends were all terrible, and the mystery of the fire wasn't as prevalent as I thought it would be.

I will the random plot about her "friend" being mad she wouldn't be a surrogate or whatever. Like what even is that?

I don't know what I wanted from this, but I was just reading to read by the halfway point.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hadn’t seen too much hype about this book before I picked it up but I was captivated by the gorgeous cover and intrigued by the synopsis. I’m happy to report I really enjoyed it!! Even though it took me a while to actually finish reading it 🙈 (#newmomproblems)

I love how this story explores the idea of perfume as a super power. I found the book to be more contemporary fiction than magical realism– the concept of the perfume is introduced with an air of magical realism but the story that follows is much more based in reality. I really liked this approach and thought it made the book more interesting; I think a lot of women already feel more confident when they put on makeup or a special perfume and it was fun to see how this translated into Iris’s life. I enjoyed seeing Iris come out of her shell and learn to take more control over her life, even if some of her choices were… questionable. I also loved the side characters and thought they really rounded the book out. I was fully satisfied with the ending and how Iris bloomed (😜) into her best self over the course of the novel.

Overall this was a great story of confidence, self reflection, and growth that I recommend to all contemporary fiction lovers out there!

[Sophia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book went so many places that I was not expecting. Such an interesting concept tho and I was hooked once I started. Made the flight home go by much quicker. I loved the line, “I am a woman. I have been taken from my whole life. And I am still here. I am a force!”. Felt like everything got cleaned up pretty conveniently at the end and if I were Iris’s friend, I would not have forgiven Mike. His excuse was that he was nervous for the baby to come. I’m sorry, are you the one birthing it? Then relax. Hannah’s actually building the human inside her and acting just fine. Smh.

[Kara McGrath · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a surprisingly quick read for nearly 400 pages! I couldn’t put it down because so much was happening…a bit too much, I think. I thought the premise of the magical fragrance was very cool and that Rapacine was a great character, but I wish more drama had come from that mystical element rather than piled on real-life tragedies. It’s clear the author did a bunch of research into fragrance, lighting, and the NYC housing crisis, which I appreciated but had an issue with how the secondary characters’ often marginalized identities seemed to simply be stated as substitute for true character development rather than actually explored in depth. Very glad the cats never actually die though! :)

[Sarah Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️-I feel like the bones of this book were really strong, but I’m not sure that the execution was the best. It definitely kept me reading and the premise of it was super interesting, but all the parts came together a little awkwardly at the end and it was not fully believable. Overall, though it still was a good read, and I really felt connected to the main character.

[Ely · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing was very lush but I feel like the turn into political drama at the end was a bit off. Regardless, it’d make a fantastic limited series on HBO starring Nicole Kidman

Also Hannah and Mike suck why did they get a redemption??