This is a tough one for me because I enthusiastically loved Ghosts of Harvard and I've been on the lookout for Ms. Serritella's next novel since then. By comparison, I was disappointed in Full Bloom. Perhaps if I'd gone in blind I might not feel that way, but this novel was a bit all over the place for me.

It started out as a pretty straight forward romance so I missed the complexity of her first novel since this felt very basic in comparison, so from the start this book felt somewhat insignificant to me.

But then things take a turn and get darker and then darker still -- it felt quite a jarring shift from the simple romance and magic perfume we started with. Essentially the balance of the shifting tones did not work for me. Others may see it differently but I felt like the book was all over the place and didn't know what it wanted to be so it tried to be everything and didn't succeed at any of it.

I will say most of the writing is strong and I would read more from her in the future.

This is an amazing novel with heart and soul along with doubts and insecurities. A seemingly magical, personally curated perfume changes the trajectory of a woman. It gives her so much, yet causes more doubts.
The ultimate chapters are intense.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A contemporary romance with great writing and thought provoking prose. Just an enjoyable read that is a step above your usual romance novel.

Full Bloom is pure magic in book form. Francesca Serritella delivers a heartfelt, uplifting story that’s as beautiful as it is moving. With vivid characters and emotional depth, this novel blossoms with charm, wisdom, and just the right touch of wonder. An absolute joy to read from start to finish. (I received an advance reader copy and all opinions are my own)

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an ARC of this book!
This book was a compelling surprise! I was not anticipating being so immersed in this book! "Full Bloom" is an engrossing tale of love, maturity, and self awareness. Do not be scared by the size of this book, the passing is so fast, I could have read it in one sitting, but I wanted to savor it!
"Full Bloom" follows Iris who is dealing with a recent break-up, and taking steps to plan for her future as she approaches the age of 35. This means fertility treatments, and contemplation of her work life balance. Her life seems like it is falling apart, then when her neighbor gives her a perfume, that magically makes her the object of everyone's desires, it seems like things will finally go Iris's way. She is quite mistaken, and what unfolds is a tale of self discovery and recognition of self inadequacies.
The one thing I did not love about this book was the initial framing scene, which then is brought up far later in the text. This scene is speaking to a fundamental trauma to Iris, yet in many ways it is not needed to the rest of the text. I found that this plot point distracted from the rest of the text.
If you are approaching this book after reading "Ghosts of Harvard" get ready for a vastly different book. This book felt like a fun play on the young woman finding herself in the city trope that is all over literary fiction these days.
I would highly recommend this book if you are looking for a fast paced and thought provoking book.

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

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!!.. I have always been a self proclaimed "dark" girlie & therefore usually like my reads to follow suit.. I just couldn't helped 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

This was lush, weird, and a little chaotic in the best way. I loved the themes of desire, power, and memory (and how scent was used as a way into all of them - scent and memory is so real!). Iris felt so well developed, and the writing kept me curious even when the plot got a little crowded (though I do love a lengthy wander). Recommend giving it a read! Thanks to NetGally for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

There are a lot of bits to like about this book, but I can already tell there is going to be a significant problem in marketing this book. There is WAY too much going on here and I’m not sure what this book wants to be. So many subplots get lost in background as a new (and often a bit absurd) one pops up. I loved Serritella’s first book, which was so clearly a thriller, but this is much more vague. Romance, suspense, self discovery? It doesn’t need to pigeon hole itself, but some of the things that would pop up (Iris remembering the fire immediately comes to mind) completely change the tone of the book and do not feel explored enough because there was simply so much else going on. Considering this book is over 400 pages it’s a bit crazy to say it needed to be longer to wrap everything up.

The passage of time also made no sense to me. We start with Hannah’s shower, which makes me think it’s about ~2 months before she gives birth, but when we talk about the egg retrieval timeline everything felt especially muddy.

I’m bummed this didn’t work for me and I worry it will turn off readers given the description, title, and cover do not accurately portray all of what was going on here.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

At first I wasn't sure what I thought about this book. It felt kind of all over the place, but I am a patient reader and was hopeful that everything would serve a purpose and make sense in the end. I was very to have it do so. I often found the MFC's actions and decisions and thoughts to be frustrating, but all of that makes sense when you get to the end and I appreciated that with how much scent an integral part of this story that it was scent that opened up the revelation that made me feel quite differently about the MFC. Honestly, my heart accepted why another woman with her experiences had the challenges she had.
I am a great dog lover and reading Francesca's words about her dog, Pip, made me love her as a person and really overall her acknowledgments pages--and ending--puts her up there with liking her as much as I like her mom, author Lisa Scottoline. The apple did not fall far from the tree and I'm happy Francesca (who I was acquainted with from the nonfiction books made up of columns she and her mother write for a Philly newspaper) has become a professional fiction author.
Much thanks to #NetGalley and #RandomHousePublishingGroup for an ARC of this book which has a publication date of August 5, 2025.

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.

Ì received this book at no cost from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The main character, Iris, is beautifully flawed, wonderfully talented. The book takes her on a rolicky ride to self-discovery, new confidence and self-forgiveness.

The family of friends Iris has built is a wonderful collection of real characters, beautifully portrayed by the author.

The theme of influence of scent throughout the book was fascinating and leant a bit of magic to the story.. But the real magic is the human connections complicated by life in present-day New York. The city itself was a character and influence throughout with all its beauty and flaws.

You know that rare feeling when a book grabs you from the very first page and doesn’t let go? Full Bloom did that — and then some. I literally highlighted the entire first page of the prologue. Not a few lovely lines. The whole page.

It starts with a bang — a literal gas explosion — and from there, it blossoms into something uniquely magical. That moment, when the characters detect the scent that saves them, sets the tone: Who knew scent could carry such high stakes?

This novel is so grounded in emotional and sensory reality that by the time the possibly magical perfume appears, we believe it. Is it a potion? Is it a placebo? Or is it the woman our protagonist becomes when she wears it? Serritella keeps that mystery deliciously alive.

Also: erotic glassblowing. (Yes, really.)
And a scene where he helps her confront the flame — emotionally and literally? YES, PLEASE.

The way this book deconstructs tropes is a masterclass. Nate, the so-called nice guy, hijacks her ideas. Bill, a petty tyrant in public housing. Gabe, the sexy artist who has his own class prejudices. Jonathan, the expected villain developer — turns out, he’s surprisingly complex and emotionally intelligent... (view spoiler)

And then there’s Allegra — the child character who isn’t just a cute plot device. Some of my favorite scenes were hers (okay, yes, as a fellow horse girl, I’m biased).

The story is grounded in the messiness of friendship, career, identity, and romance. And yet, it’s still a fantasy — a world where you might have three eligible suitors, two job offers, and a life-changing perfume. A world that makes you believe maybe your own life could bloom in unexpected ways, too. And then crash and burn. A study in opposites.

Just when you think things couldn’t get better, they do. And when they get worse? They do that spectacularly as well. It’s a rollercoaster — but every twist is earned.

Before I even finished this review, I downloaded Ghosts of Harvard. That’s how deeply I fell. So please excuse me while I go bury myself in more Francesca Serritella magic.

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

**5 STARS!!** This was such a phenomenal read and will have you tickling 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!!

A novel about the seduction of perfume? I wasn't sure about it. Starting from the beautiful cover, the descriptions and possibilities draw you in.
A perfume so personal that it changes your perceptions of self? And a fragrance so attractive that others are drawn into your circle? That's the premise of the novel.

I enjoyed the story and was reminded of the smells of the kitchens and wardrobes of my grandmothers and aunties. Thinking of that brought many memories. I guess it's true - smell is one of the subtlest and most powerful senses.

If you enjoy descriptions and changing relationships, you'll probably like this one!

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 notion, 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?

A book about perfume? I’m extremely allergic to all strong scents – especially perfume. I can’t be near it or wear it because I wind up with a searing headache, red, swollen eyes, and need an asthma pump to breathe. I picked up this book because I was enthralled at the idea that a spritz of perfume could entirely change someone’s life.

Iris’ longtime boyfriend broke up with her. Now, at thirty-five, her dream of marriage and having children was lost. Her job seemed dead-end as she’d worked for years as a lighting designer but could never get a promotion or raise. She spent her life second guessing herself, shrinking into the background, and letting others lead. When an older French woman she’d befriended offered her a bottle of perfume that would change her life she wasn’t convinced. The woman promised she had made it specifically for her so she would be self-confident, and men would fall at her feet. Iris decided to try it.

Amazingly, the perfume gave Iris confidence to make big changes. Everything seemed to be coming up roses, including getting a new job with a huge raise, an incredibly hot new boyfriend, and more. However, as wonderful as the perfume seemed to be, Iris began having second thoughts. What would happen if she didn’t wear it anymore? Could she be loved for herself? Those worries paled in comparison to what was going on behind the scenes at her new job. Not even the perfume could help her now.

I loved, loved, LOVED this book! Iris’ predicament of singleness and childlessness is relevant and completely believable (especially to older, single, and childless women. Though I had hoped desperately since I was in my mid-20’s to be married and have a family, I didn’t find anyone until I was 44 and never had children.) I would have loved a perfume like Iris’ to give me confidence to meet interesting men and change my life.

I won’t give out anything else about this amazing book except to say you need to RUN and get a copy as soon as it debuts in August. You won’t regret it, as there’s a lot I left out that will have you squirming in your seat…

Highly recommended for Adults.

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.

Francesca Serritella’s captivating narrative, “Full Bloom,” immediately drew me in. The author’s intriguing portrayal of fragrances, especially since I’m new to perfume, made it a delightful blend of romance and the enchantment of blooming scents. While it may not have been my top favorite read, it was still enjoyable.

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.

Full Bloom by Francesca Serritella is about Iris, a 35-year-old woman stuck in a rut after a bad breakup. Her life starts to change when a mysterious French perfumer gives her a custom scent that boosts her confidence and opens doors to high-powered people and opportunities. As she starts to chase success and love, old trauma from her childhood resurfaces, and she has to figure out who she really is and what she wants. The story mixes a bit of magic with real-life struggles like career pressure, relationships, and healing. It’s beautifully written, though sometimes it tries to do too much at once. Overall, it’s a rich and emotional story about finding yourself and blooming into who you’re meant to be.