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.💐💐

#FullBloom #FrancescaSerritella #BallantineBooks #NetGalley #bestbooks2025 #ARCreview #bookreview #bookrecommendations #Bookstagram #2025TBR #anticipatedbooks #literaryromance #mystery #magicalrealism #booksofinstagram #bookinfluencer #readersofinstagram #booklover #NetGalleyReviewer

This was my first book by this author and I loved it. The book is about a woman who is down on her luck both personally and professionally in NYC until she is gifted a special perfume that changes everything. But everything comes with a price!

Iris lost her parents in a house fire when she was eleven and dreams of having a family of her own. She thought this would happen with Ben, her boyfriend of five-years, until he blindsides her with a breakup. Days from turning thirty-five, she finds out her fertility is in a steeper nosedive than expected. To keep her dream alive, she needs to freeze her eggs, a costly undertaking.

Iris is a lighting professional who works with male colleagues she descries as “the frats,” a crass “pack of dogs.” She is competent and visionary but struggles to have her voice heard. When she asks her boss for a promotion and higher pay, which she needs for the expensive fertility treatments, he declines. Her role is like a pacer in a peloton, he explains. While she sets expectations for work output, this does not necessarily mean she is the best.

Going forward, Iris will need to prove she is more than the pacer if she wats to preserve her dream of parenthood. Her neighbor, Mme. Rapacine, has the solution in the form of a special perfume.

I appreciate the idea of this story—the female professional elbowing her way through a male workplace, infertility, and the role of friendships. The writing is good and some of the characters are likable and relatable.

That said, I expected this book to be more general fiction than romance. I suppose consumer product manufacturers have trained us that the first ingredient listed will be the majority. I simply didn’t notice that romance was the next ingredient, and I don’t read that genre. The book was moving on a general track until it got to the magical perfume, which seems to tie into the role of pheromone-like substances and their connection with desire. Suddenly, the men who want Iris are famous, chiseled, buff, rich, powerful, or a combination thereof. These connections lead to dangerous and risky behavior such as going home late at night with strangers, which she and her friends celebrate as positives. Why does this matter? The themes are compelling and lend themselves to more than one-nighters with strangers, all of whom are perfect specimens of manhood. This is perfect for the romance genre but wasn’t what I was hoping for.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group—Ballantine and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

Iris is a 35 year old woman who was recently dumped by her long term boyfriend she thought she was going to marry. She loves her job as an architectural lighting designer, but is tired of getting looked over for promotions time and time again. In the middle of all of this, she receives a gift from her neighbor, a perfume designed especially for her. It's not just any perfume though. This perfume has magical properties that make Iris more desirable and compelling. As the perfume begins to help her get her groove back, she lands a huge job for her lighting firm, a job that will soon take a turn.

3.5 stars.

There was a lot to like about this book. First, it's magical realism, which is always a plus for me. I think the characters were well written, and in particular I really enjoyed Madame Rapacine. The author covered a wide range of topics, including the housing crisis in NYC. I also liked that the author kept us on our toes. I never really knew where the story was going until it got there.

That being said, there were times that the author was maybe doing a little too much. There would be a deep dive on a particular topic that would go on for a couple of pages, and then that would kind of trail off and never come up again. My other issue was pacing. It was a pretty slow first half, picked up a little bit, then suddenly got very intense for the last 5 or so chapters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the ARC!

Grieving a breakup and feeling overlooked at her job as a lighting designer, Iris is feeling lost and lonely in NYC. Her kindly elderly neighbor, who is a famous perfumer—and maybe a witch?—blends a special perfume just for Iris, designed to give her everything she’s ever wanted. Iris feels unstoppable: handsome men, “work” trips to the Hamptons, and confidence that she’s always dreamed of. But as her world expands, she finds her growing closer to the truth about people in her life, both past and present.

I was intoxicated by the concept of this book, just like a delicious, complex perfume captures the senses. Scent is perhaps the most primal sense that we have, and the right note can transport you to a particular day, time, or era. Perfume has always fascinated me (I have a small collection myself) and I couldn’t wait to read about what would do for Iris.

Unfortunately, the perfume storyline got bogged down in a lot of other storylines to the point where I felt like I was reading about 5 different books that had been smushed together. This book couldn’t decide if it wanted to be literary fiction, a romance, or a drama (kind of a thriller, but not really?), and the promised magical realism of the power of perfume was put on the back burner.

Overall, this was a mixed bag for me. I enjoyed the writing style and finished it quickly, but I think the book needed focus and many of the subplots could have been cut to focus on the main point of the story.

Full Bloom by Francesca Serritella is such a unique story.
How she blended intrigue and romance was beautifully done.
The author does a wonderful job with the settings, plot and characterizations.
A captivating, thought-provoking novel that blends magical realism with emotion.

Thank you NetGalley and Ballentine Books for this ARC.

Enjoyable read and inspired me to learn more about perfume. Good pacing, although it often felt like the timeline was a little foggy. Loved the character progression and development. Maybe a little too much going on, but I enjoyed it overall.

Full Bloom is a richly layered story that blends romance, suspense, self-discovery, and a hint of magical realism—all centered around a fascinating and original premise involving a mysterious, custom-made perfume. Iris Sunnegren is a relatable and endearing protagonist, stuck in a rut after a breakup and feeling left behind as her friends move forward in life, but her journey toward confidence and empowerment is both moving and inspiring. I loved the quirky and lovable cast of characters (especially Gabe, her best friend Hannah, and even her complicated neighbor), as well as Iris’s unique career as a lighting designer and the sweet bond with her dog. The novel's structure—tied to the layers of a fragrance—added a thoughtful, creative touch, and the writing was vivid and immersive throughout. With its surprising twists, emotional depth, and exploration of what it really means to bloom, this was a truly enjoyable and satisfying read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine for the advanced reader copy.

Iris Sunnegren, on the cusp of turning thirty, is finding that her life is far from what she thought it'd be at this point. While she has her dream job as a lighting designer, she can't seem to rise in the ranks of her company no matter what she does. And her boyfriend, Ben, who she thought was going to be her fiance, instead breaks up with her saying that he "needs more." When her neighbor, the enigmatic Frenchwoman Rapacine gives Iris a signature perfume and warns that it will make the people around Iris "want her" Iris figures she has nothing to lose--besides, the perfume smells divine. Wearing the perfume changes Iris' life. She finds that men flock to her, she finally gets a big project for her company, and she feels more confident about herself all around. But is everything that's happening--including a new romance with a handsome artist--because of her newfound confidence or the perfume? Iris starts to realize that wearing the perfume, getting everything she wants, comes at a cost. Is she willing to pay it?

This was a much more successful book than Serritella's first solo endeavor. I found Iris to be just the right balance of externally passive but internally desiring so much, that when she gets the perfume and sees it's effects, you can easily believe how it changes her behavior. The secondary storyline, about a housing project blowing up (affecting Iris' friends family), and the tertiary, about Rapacine's fight against her landlords, nested seamlessly into the main storyline. The book was well paced and I was sucked into the story, staying up late to get to the end. There were a few moments that dragged the book down, where the author clearly got to do some research into perfume, flowers, art, etc. and felt the need to info dump that in conversations between characters. But, otherwise, this was an excellent sophomore book and a great read.

Full Bloom comes out August 5, 2025.

Iris receives a one-of-a-kind perfume made specifically for her. The moment she wears it, she becomes undeniably captivating to everyone around her. But the true magic of the perfume lies not in its effect on others, but in the powerful self-discovery it leads her to

Wow. Thank you NetGalley and Ballentine Books for this ARC. What a freakin’ treat this was! Beautifully written, unpredictable, and so unique. I was glued to this story right from the start. At times, it felt a tad wordy, but not enough to diminish this as a whole. A must read if you enjoy a story about discovering oneself, with a few twists.

Let me begin by saying there are a lot of moving parts to this book, but I LOVED it. Iris Sunnegren feels like life is passing her by. Her longtime boyfriend broke up with her. Her friends are getting married and having children. Her career is stuck in neutral.
As a gift from a French neighbor skilled in the creation of perfume, she receives a special fragrance just for her.
Soon, she finds herself with men interested in her. She lands a huge account at work. She begins to make solid decisions for her future. Even though these positive things are happening, the doubt is still present. What happens when she doesn’t wear the perfume? Will these powerful ways simply go away?
This novel is for those who love a strong protagonist whose growth is evident, enjoy a bit of mystery, a dash of love story, and an exciting finish. Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing/Ballantine for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

This concept was really interesting and it definitely drew me in. I was very hopeful. I enjoyed the book overall, but I felt like it almost had too much going on.

I enjoyed Francesca's debut novel, The Ghosts of Harvard, and hoped I would like this one too.
I loved it!
My review does contain spoilers!!!

It had some romance as well as some unexpected suspense!

I loved Iris and all her "self-imposed" flaws. I loved the neighbor who gave her the perfume, her best friend Hannah... and all the other characters in the book (even Mike) and especially Gabe. I love how Iris's confidence grew. It may have wavered, but I felt she finally believed she WAS good enough and she did have what it takes to make it in business and was deserving of love and success. There were so many subplots in the book - i wasn't sure if I would get lost in trying to keep up with who is who. I did not and love how it all came together by the end... and I did not see the Jonathon twist coming at all!

4.25 stars! This was such a creative premise for a book, and i was totally hooked from the start. FULL BLOOM follows Iris Sunnegren, who’s still healing from a recent breakup and struggling to get the credit she deserves at her job, while also dealing with the aftereffects of past trauma. When Iris’s mysterious neighbor gifts her a unique perfume, everything seems to change, and suddenly everything seems to be unfolding perfectly for Iris in terms of her work, personal, and love life. But is getting what you wish for really all it’s cracked up to be?

As mentioned, the concept of the story, its focus on fragrances and the roles they can play in people’s lives, was so creative and fascinating! Francesca Serritella clearly did her research in this area. I loved the inclusion of some quotes about the art of fragrances and the formatting choice of dividing the story into 3 parts, each centering on a different “note” in perfume and what each one means/how it relates to Iris’s journey. In general, I really enjoyed the writing style, too! It was so detailed and evocative, I could picture Iris’s life in NYC and everything she was experiencing. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book where a character is a lighting designer, so it was especially interesting to read about her career. Plus, I loved the scenes with Iris and her dog—Serritella talks in the acknowledgements about how her special bond with her own dog inspired their relationship, which was super sweet and meaningful!

I also liked how the story blends so many different elements: there’s a little romance, self-discovery, mystery, magical realism, etc. With the magical realism aspect, I appreciated how it was kind of ambiguous, in a sense. The readers and Iris are constantly questioning if the perfume really has special powers, or if it has just inspired that confidence in her to go after what she wants (or both).

If there’s one thing that didn’t entirely work for me, I feel like the ending was a little bit rushed and like some plotlines were wrapped up a bit too quickly. It didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of the story, but I felt like certain things could have been expanded on a little more. Otherwise, I really enjoyed this one and look forward to reading more from Francesca Serritella! Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC.

This is a "romance" but so much more. Iris is passed over for a promotion, her boyfriend cheats on her and she is trying to harvest eggs so she can someday be a mom. A lot of heavy things happen, but wow, this is so well written. I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley and this is my honest review.

Am I missing something? With so many glowing reviews, I truly expected to love this book—but I honestly don’t even know what I just read. It had so much potential, but it tried to tackle too many themes at once and completely lost me in the process. Perfume, housing issues, real estate, fertility struggles, glass blowing, childhood trauma… I kept waiting for it to all come together, but it never quite did. What was the actual focus?

I was really disappointed by the direction this story took, especially given how promising it seemed at the start.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC.

Wow! This book was all over the place but in a good way. Iris, the main character is a 35 year old, recently single. Her boyfriend of five years broke up with her. She feels alone and dejected. She works as a lighting engineer for a company who promotes men quicker than women. She decides she should freeze her eggs because who know when she will be wanting to start a family. She has had trauma in her life with her parents dying in a house fire that her cousin managed to get her to safety. She grew up with a grandmother and Aunt. She has a best female bestie and a gay male bestie. An older French neighbor make perfumes and decided to boost Iris's spirits by giving her a special scent she can call her own. When Iris wears this scent she attracts men. She feels beautiful and sexy. It opens up a whole new world for her. But does it really? Maybe all she needed was some self confidence and self worth. Along the way, there is romance (by a number of fellows), job opportunities, friendships and a thriller mystery. The book is so well written and described that you don't even realize that it was 416 pages until you are finished and wish it was longer. It will definitely keep you turning the pages way into the night.
Thanks to #netgalley, #ballentinebooks and @fserritella for an ARC of this great read. All opinions are my own.

“Most bad things that happen to us are completely out of our control, it is dumb luck. And then some bad things happen to us because we are not claiming the control we do have, you give your power away or lay waste to it with worry and self-doubt. You must learn to tell the difference of you won’t make it.”

Iris is newly single and struggling to get the credit she deserves at work. When her neighbor gifts her with perfume, a perfume that is made specifically for Iris, she begins to notice how quickly things change. Suddenly men are running to talk to her, and she lands a high profile, important client for work. Does any of this have anything to do with Iris though? Or is the perfume putting everyone under a spell?

4.25 stars! This book hooked me from the very start and I read the first half in one sitting while trying to fall asleep! I quickly devoured the rest and truly loved every second. The only thing that brought this one down .75 of a star was that the end felt like it was a bit rushed and I needed more info as everything wrapped up. It was one where I saw I had 10% left and had no clue how we would wrap everything up in that time. That said, This book was truly a fantastic read! I saw someone else say they weren’t sure if the perfume really had magical qualities, or if Iris just felt more confident wearing it, and I think I am leaning toward her confidence, but would love to chat in the comments if you have read this one!

Thank you to @BallantineBooks for my gifted copy of this book!

Title: Full Bloom
Author: Francesca Serritella
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine/Ballantine Books
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Pub Date: August 5, 2025
My Rating: 3..6 Stars
Pages: 416

Iris Sunnegren finds herself stuck, disconnected, and lonely in crowded New York

Iris Sunnegren is thirty-five years old and finds herself a rut. She has .reached a level at work and is waiting for a promotion. She is lonely have having a bit of an identity crisis. She is seriously looking into the process of having her eggs frozen however not sure how she can paid for it. She is hoping for have a lifetime of happiness just as many of her friends are experiencing.

Then one day, her quirky, French, neighbor Mireille Rapacine who is somewhat older and Iris calls her Madame Rapacine involves Iris that she is a retired fourth-generation ’nose’ a master perfumer. She gives Iris her own unique perfume. It is soon finds her life has changed and seems magical! Life is great as long as she wears this perfume. She loves it and soon has difficulty with what is real and what is the result of the perfume.

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.

I read and loved her first novel " Ghost of Harvard"!
A lot going on in this story that was fun – some not so much ~ Have to admit I did try the lighting a candle by lighting the smoke.

I want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine/Ballantine Books for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for August 5, 2025.