From the publisher:
The power to be seen. The power to be heard. The power to be adored. . .
https://amzn.to/42qSQdh
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 gift: a bespoke perfume.
One spritz, a dab behind the ears, and Iris feels like 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. Invigorated by the perfume, 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 asks: Who are you without your inhibitions? Does being wanted get what you want, or will you be devoured by desire?
This beautifully written new novel from Serritella (Ghosts of Harvard) is a New York City-centric tale of a woman’s journey of self-discovery sparked by a perfume created especially for her, as well as an exploration of scent. Iris, who lost her parents in a tragic house fire as a child, now finds herself at a crossroads: at thirty-five, she’s single, freezing her eggs, stuck in a dead-end job as a lighting designer, and unsure of her future. A touch of magic imbues the fragrance and gives Iris newfound confidence; when wearing the bespoke perfume, her life transforms. Suddenly, she becomes irresistible to men and lands a major new client at work. After losing out on a promotion, she takes a job offered by her new client, and life couldn’t be better. Her new boss supports her in every way possible, but when Iris stumbles across some unsavory business dealings, she faces impossible choices. Torn between her newfound success and her conscience, Iris must decide what truly matters.
Verdict: This engaging story is part mystery, part romance, and is infused with a hint of magic, making it an excellent choice for book groups.
©Library Journal, 2025
8/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
FULL BLOOM by Francesca Serritella. Ballantine Books (August 5, 2025). ISBN: 978-0525510390. 416p.
Stacy Alesi's BookBitch.com™ 