I was gifted a physical copy of The Scent Keeper as well as an eBook copy from NetGalley. At the time I hadn’t seen the book before I received it, and when I opened the box I thought the cover was breathtaking! The description on the back had my interest peeked, so I stopped by current read and got started. I’ll tell you that the first few chapters I wasn’t hooked, but each chapter I read I became more invested and I ended up loving the story. What an incredibly unique story based on the memories a scent can evoke. Maybe a certain perfume reminds you of your mother, or the smell of a homemade pie reminds you of your grandmother’s kitchen. For me it’s the smell of freshly cut grass on a Sunday morning, Old Spice reminds me of my dad and the smell of black licorice my grandpa. I’ve never read a book like The Scent Keeper, and I love that the storyline was thought provoking! I finished the book a month ago but I still think about it often and have recommended the book to both my book clubs.
Emmeline lives with her father on an Island just the two of them. He’s all she knows and he spends his days teaching her everything she needs to know through real life experience. The most important thing he teaches her is how to use her sense of smell, and to capture these precious scents into memories in a glass bottle. He has a wall full of beautiful bottles all sealed with different colored wax, and won’t tell Emmeline what they are for. As she grows older her natural adventurous side takes over and she starts to explore the island and discover so many secrets that her father has never shared with her. A life changing accident changes everything for Emmeline. Her life as she knew it was all a lie, and she doesn’t even know who she is, or even her father for that matter. Emmeline must take a trip to discover who she is, where she came from, and find the one person who can possibly answer all her questions. Will she find what she’s looking for, or only be more confused in the end.
A beautifully written story that I guarantee will warm your heart and have you falling in love with the main character by the end. This book is going in my top 10 list for 2019!

In Emmeline’s childhood, mermaids brought supplies to their island cabin, and scents of faraway places lived in beautiful bottles covering the back wall. Made with a mysterious machine, these scents inspire her father’s tales of Queen Emmeline and Jack, the Scent Hunter. Tragedy thrusts her into the mainstream world, where secrets are revealed and Emmeline must redefine family. Bauermeister portrays a magical land of enchantment from a child’s perspective, and the demise of innocence so well that dear reader’s heart breaks for Emmeline. I was fortunate to receive this beautiful story of never giving up on your dream, and unintended consequences, from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley.

“Sadness, like the dark purple juice of a blackberry. Fear, like the metallic taste of an oncoming storm. Love, which smelled like nothing so much as fresh bread.”

I’m going to be honest, when I first read the blurb for this book, I wasn’t into it. A book about smell? An odd choice to be sure, but original, so I took a shot.

Reminiscent of The Great Alone and Where the Crawdads Sing (two of my favorites from last year) the writing in this book was just beautiful. Lyrical, poetic, prose that you can just get lost in.

The Scent Keeper follows Emmeline, who, at the beginning of the book is living on a remote island with her father. Completely isolated from the rest of the world. They spend their days foraging and gardening, with the occasional mysterious delivery from the “mermaids”. When things take a turn and Emmeline is removed from the island and placed in the care of a loving couple, she is faced with a world completely foreign to her and is forced to grow up in ways she couldn’t have imagined.

Unfortunately, the ending lost this book a star. There was so much more wrapping up that should have been done. I don’t need everything tied up perfectly with a bow but I do need some idea of what’s going on. I almost thought I got a misprinted copy of the book that was missing the last few chapters.

Overall, I really enjoyed it and am so pleased to have a copy to add to my personal library.

4 stars. Sincerest thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, it was such a pleasure.

I was invited to read The Scent Keeper by St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley and I honestly didn’t want to read it. I think I read the blurb twice wondering how I was going to enjoy a book like this. This sounded like I was going to be rolling my eyes quite a bit and trying to read it as fast as possible. But this may be one of the most beautifully written stories I’ve ever read. I am so glad I took the chance to read this one because it will rank up there as one of my favorites.

Emmeline lives an enchanted childhood on a remote island with her father, who teaches her about the natural world through her senses. What he won’t explain are the mysterious scents stored in the drawers that line the walls of their cabin, or the origin of the machine that creates them. As Emmeline grows, however, so too does her curiosity, until one day the unforeseen happens, and Emmeline is vaulted out into the real world--a place of love, betrayal, ambition, and revenge. To understand her past, Emmeline must unlock the clues to her identity, a quest that challenges the limits of her heart and imagination.

Lyrical and immersive, The Scent Keeper explores the provocative beauty of scent, the way it can reveal hidden truths, lead us to the person we seek, and even help us find our way back home.

Such a fascinating read that takes you on a self-discovery journey you never expected. This unique story will make you think more about the way a scent can evoke a memory. It has been compared to Where The Crawdads Sing and I do see some similarities to that book, but this one definitely stands out all on its own. You won’t be disappointed with this amazing read, so make sure you grab a copy. Release date is tomorrow!

Raised on a remote island by her father, John, Emmeline is immersed in a life of survival, solitude, and scents. You see, her father has created the "Polaroid" of scents, a machine that captures and preserves smells. Just like photos, certain smells can transport you back to a specific time and place and evoke memories. Her father is obsessed with preserving and protecting his bottled scents, but why and from who?

"People lie... but smells never do."

At first, I wasn’t sure about this book (especially the intense and magical properties surrounding scent) and thought about quitting. But, the more I read, the more fascinated I became by Emmeline and her unique coming-of-age story. At about 20%, my misgivings had ended, and I was fully immersed in the story and entranced by the magical prose. Along the way, my heart ached for Emmeline, I marveled at her immense sense of smell while pondering the power of scent, and I fell in love with Colette, Henry, Fisher, and Dodge, Emmeline's sweet and patient dog, who all helped her blossom and heal.

Lastly, I wasn't quite ready for the abrupt ending (mostly because I wanted to know more about Emmeline's life!), but just like scent, perhaps it was fitting for the end to be a bit elusive. I definitely don't feel like it took away from the beauty of the rest of the story, and I had no trouble deciding what I thought should happen next!

Location: British Columbia, Canada

I received an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

So, y'all, let me tell you about The Scent Keeper.

This is the story of Emmeline. Her story begins on a secluded island. Here she lives with her father. What she knows of life there and beyond is from her father. He tells her stories, but more than anything, he teaches her through the smells of the world kept in drawers and drawers of wax-sealed bottles that line a wall of their home.

What I loved about this is that it's very much a coming of age, but it's coming of age in such a different way. It bridges so many different worlds, and in each, Emmeline must figure out what is true, who to trust, and where she fits into it all.

Honestly, y'all, this one had me captivated from the first page to the very last sentence. That's rare for a book to do. It was the story of a fantasy world, but at the same time, it all felt so real because the storytelling so deeply immersed me in Emmeline navigating the world(s) around her.

It's a bit hard for me to review this one because the beauty comes in the revelations along the way. I don't want to give away the twists and turns because that is what drew me into the tale. You just have to trust me when I tell you that you need to go on this adventure. Also, while this is truly Emmeline's story, the plot very much progresses through the world around her. It first begins as she questions the island she inhabits more and more. There is then a time where she has to go out into the "real world" and learns about her past, as well as contemplates where her future is going to be. With that, there are so many feels y'all, and that's why I loved it. You truly feel each feel as truth (and lies) are revealed to Emmeline.

This is a story that has familiar themes, but the unique nature of the setting is what makes it feel new and different. This is an ambitious direction for a story like this, but it totally works. I also really love how scent is at the center of the story. It's a sense that is so central to our memory, but it's not one I've ever seen a story built around. In addition to being about Emmeline, reading this also gave me this feeling of home and wonder and nostalgia as I thought about my own relationship with scent.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for allowing me to have a part in this blog tour with an advanced look at this read, and even more importantly, for allowing me to go on Emmeline's adventure!

I found this book to be really refreshing because it was so unique. It was about scents and how smells can remind you of people and places, both good and bad. But it is about so much more than that, it is actually a complicated story about love and loss and finding yourself and trusting people. An interesting read.

Wow what a ride. This story started very strong for me. I was absolutely invested in Emmaline and Fisher’s story. I fell head over heals in love with these kids. The concept of the scent keeper was riveting. I am now officially fascinated in the study of scents.
I will say this. I do not feel this story ended as strong as would have liked it to. I’m going to mull on this one for a while though, so for that it earns 4 stars for me. I will absolutely recommend this one to readers. Will post my full review on my Instagram page...TheSouthernGirlReads.

What an interesting read.  The first thing I want to say is that if you are part of a book club, this is a MUST READ.  I promise you there is SO much to talk about throughout the book.  My thoughts?  I am very conflicted...

I could not get into this book until Part 2.  The entire first part of this book talks about scented paper and living on a deserted, desolate island where this little girl and her father forage for food.  Mermaids leave surprises in boxes every so often for supplies, but it all centered around a machine that made scents.  They left the paper in bottles and eventually the smells started to fade and it sent the father into a nose dive depression.   I just could not get into this book about scents.  I ended up speed reading most of this book as I really was having a hard time grasping the concept of it.  Toward the end of part 2 and for all of part 3 I did slow the pace of my reading down and really try to understand it.

We get past the scents and eventually the daughter, Emmeline (pronounced like on-the-line...don't do what myself or her school teacher do and call her Emmelene haha), makes it to civilization and learns a whole new world (complete with a love interest).  Here is where my interest peaked and where she started to learn who she was and sought to seek out where she came from (remember, she was only raised by Dad and had no idea what her last name was or who her mother was).  

I also enjoyed how the book ended.  I usually am only a fan of concrete endings, however, I know where Emmeline is going to end up and I really like how she leaves things off...the author did a good job.  For this book, it was the perfect ending.

People may wonder why I even bothered to continue to read this book if I was not enjoying it at first.  Here's the thing.  Just because I personally do not like something, does not mean that someone else out there won't.  Despite the fact that I was not into it, the author did a fantastic job at describing the surroundings and I was able to imagine such beautiful scenery.  The writing in this book was top notch, I just didn't care for the content (at the beginning).  I also feel like this book needed that content at the beginning to create the book that it is.  Bauermeister is very talented, that is very obvious within her writing. To capture me in to this book halfway through was a treat and very unexpected. It was a joy to read and I am so happy to have read this book!

I made the mistake of trying to read this book in a hurry and failed miserably. The Scent Keeper is such a magical journey that really entices your senses and deserves all the attention you can give it.

Our journey starts on an island with Emmeline and her father and his jars of scents. The seclusion of the island and the magic of the scents set this story up right from the beginning. I was so intrigued and sucked in and just wanted to know more. As the story progresses, tragedy strikes and Emmeline is left to go through adolescents trying to figure out who she is, where she belongs, and who to trust. Through a revolving door of characters and relationships we begin to connect with Emmeline.

My heart was broken throughout most of the story for Emmeline. The struggles of trying to find herself and losing herself all at the same time was such an emotional roller coaster.

The most amazing aspect of this book is how Erica brings in the sense of smell. When reading a book, that is generally the last sense you expect to use. I will also be the first to admit when it comes to fragrances and smells unless it is food I am kind of hopeless. However, Erica’s writing brings to life a whole new world I would have never anticipated experiencing from reading a book. Her details of the smells and fragrances are just phenomenal and have you feeling like you are standing right next to the characters smelling the same things. I was just blown away how she managed to trigger that extra sense while reading.



🌟🌟🌟🌟💫 (4.5 out of 5) I should have known just by how gorgeous the cover was that this was going to be a magical experience. I can not wait to read more by this author to see what other senses she can tap into. The only thing I did not like about the Scent Keeper was the abrupt ending. I am the type that I prefer everything tied up nicely at the end of the day with a little bow and no questions left unanswered. I know that is almost impossible thinking but I wanted to know how some of the relationships played out.

“Scents were like rain, or birds. They left and came back. They told you their own stories, letting you know when the tide was low or the oatmeal was done cooking or the apple trees were getting ready to bloom. But they never stayed.” - The Scent Keeper

The Scent Keeper was definitely one of those books where I wasn't sure what to expect. It's different than my typical mystery or thriller and it's writing is almost lyrical in some ways. You feel like there is literal magic in the air from the writing and the descriptions make you feel like you can almost smell certain scents yourself.

I don't want to provide a synopsis of this book, because it is a coming of age tale that must be read to understand (and the author provides a short-but-sweet summary on her website)- but I do want to talk about how the book made me feel and think:

This book made me think a lot about the role "scent" or smell plays in our daily lives. The quote I referenced above is from the beginning of the novel, and I put it here because I had never thought about scent in this way before. Scents tell their own story...but they never stay. I couldn't help thinking that in Harry Potter, the powerful love potion that Hermione describes has its own scent to each person, depending on what attracts them. Again, an example of another author writing about the power of smell. And, that in life, we all likely have certain scents that take us back to another time or place or memory that we hadn't thought of for a long time.

I know this is a super vague review, but I definitely would recommend picking up this book when it comes out on Tuesday, May 21. It's beautifully written, makes you think, and is definitely worth a read. The first part of the book can be a little bit slow, but it definitely picks up and is well worth the read!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the free Kindle Edition and Hardcover of this book in exchange for my honest review and blog post.

The Scent Keeper is a marvelous piece of work.  Like the bottled smells its characters covet and loathe, it carries an odor all its own.  Top notes of other tales about children living on isolated islands float over the piece, but do not define it. You can smell flashes of Nim’s Island, sunbaked and golden under the surface, and the bright outrageous overtones of Stackpoole’s The Blue Lagoon; bright and sharp and without its grosser elements.

Our heroine is named Emmeline, and she has been raised to be kind to the mermaids.  Growing up alone with her father, John, her world consists of gathering provisions, farming the land and having her head filled with her dad’s favorite fairy tales, all of which she believes in wholeheartedly.  John has a special duty – he’s a scent hunter, and he has created a machine that captures specific smells on scraps of paper. He protects those odors by sealing them away in carefully curated bottles and rarely letting Emmeline inhale them.Emmeline is enchanted by his work.  When she reaches adolescence, her keen nose drives her to become a scent hunter too, but she is unsuccessful at distilling what she captures into single-note purity and John is disappointed in her nascent abilities.  As Emmeline struggles to win her father’s approval, secrets begin to mount up between them, and her belief in the perfect impregnable safety of their island home begins to waver.

When Emmeline wanders to the lagoon – something she’s been forbidden to do - her adventure reveals her father’s lies. It also results in the ruination of their home’s sustainability and the death of her beloved pet goat when she leads a bear back to their house.

Emmeline blames herself and her father equally for the disaster.  As winter arrives and starvation threatens them, John’s obsession with the bottles overtakes his life to the point of threatening their safety.  Hoping to shake her father out of his monomania, Emmeline throws the containers into the ocean, but instead of embracing the wider world her father drowns himself trying to save his work.

A half-wild and starving Emmeline is rescued by her neighbors,  Colette and Henry, who take her to a more populous island called Secret Cove.  Emmeline is astonished to learn she even has neighbors - let alone that there’s an entire, frightening and complex modern world waiting for her.  Sheltered and guided through her teenage years by these patient but exasperated family friends, Emmeline tries to adjust to normalcy and school, but her ability to relate to people solely through their scents stymies her.  She does make one friend, the quiet Fisher.  But Fisher’s father is physically abusive, and his threats lead to a chain reaction of events that will lead Emmeline from a medium-sized island to a big city, unveiling untold secrets and revealing her life’s calling.

The Scent Keeper is breathlessly beautiful.  Comprised of one part magical realism, two parts coming-of-age tale, it stays sharply focused on Emmeline’s crystal-clear point of view and manages to keep the reader interested effortlessly. The whole novel lives or dies by her voice and it’s so concrete, so good, that the reader will gladly follow her anywhere – from a high rise to a tree house.

To write a novel about scents, the memories they evoke and the way they’re used commercially, one has to be very adept at translating the invisible into concrete language. Bauermeister more than fulfills this requirement, taking us via long, poetic passages from a jar filled with perfumed paper to a mundane suburban home to corporate labs where perfumes are made and department store CEOs try to figure out the best way to manipulate their customers into buying more, pointing up the differences between the treasured and the disposable.

The book’s other themes – love, parenthood, blame and guilt – each have a turn in the sun as Emmeline tries to figure out who she is by figuring out who her parents were, and Bauermeister manages to avoid giving us easy answers.  No one is entirely bad, no one is entirely good, and memories float over and between the cracks.This is a beautiful, hauntingly multi-layered novel, and The Scent Keeper will follow its readers through their days, evoking memories and making new ones.

Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/Kobo

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4.5 stars

A few months ago, I was invited to participate in the blog tour for this book and after reading the summary, I accepted the invite even though I did have a little bit of hesitation about the story. The reason for my hesitation was because I had never before read any books or stories that revolved entirely around scents and smells and wondered what kind of a story this would turn out to be. Also, reading the summary, I got the impression at first that this would lean toward magical realism more than anything else, which is not a genre that I read a whole lot in, so I was a little concerned that I might struggle through this one. Well, it turns out I need not have worried, as this book was nothing like I imagined it and in the end, I not only devoured this one, I actually fell in love with the story as well as most of its characters.

This was a fascinating read for me, one in which I enjoyed every minute reading it and quite honestly, didn’t want it to end. I actually have never read a book quite like this one – unique in its detailed exploration of scent through the character of Emmeline and the talent she possessed, done in a way that was fascinating and engaging, yet also incorporating the familiarity of a story about family, love, relationships (with people as well as with nature), and the realities of ordinary life (whether good, bad, or everything in between). I love books that teach me things, that make me wonder, reflect, and ponder, that give me food for thought, and most of all, that make me continue to think about the story or its characters long after I finish reading – this book definitely did all that and then some! To be honest, before reading this book, I never gave much thought to our sense of smell or the types of images that certain scents and fragrances can conjure up – it was another one of those things I took for granted as being a necessary part of life but not tremendously special. This book changed my perspective in a big way, as it helped me realize how scents can be used to evoke memories (both pleasant and unpleasant), but can also be used to steer human behavior and even manipulate people into acting in certain ways. Already, it has made me more aware in the sense that when I smell certain scents now, I wonder about the people and the story behind those scents…

If I had to choose the thing I loved most about this book, I would have to say the writing, which was absolutely lyrical and immersive – this was a story gorgeously written and beautifully told and yes, some parts did take my breath away. It was also an emotional read for me – Emmeline’s journey of self-discovery was heart-wrenching at times but also heartfelt and hopeful. I know that Emmeline is a character I will remember for a long time to come.

With all that said though, my one complaint – and the main reason why this book was just shy of a 5 star read for me – was the ending, which was way too abrupt and actually left me thinking that perhaps I was missing a few pages somewhere. After such a beautiful, heartfelt journey – one that I was so immersed and invested in – to have it end the way it did was jarring and more than a little bit disappointing. Luckily, the rest of the story was strong enough that it didn’t impact how I felt about the book overall but I think if the ending had been done differently, this would have been a perfect read.

Without a doubt, this is a book that I highly recommend – one that I feel no review can do justice to, as it is a story that must be experienced for yourself. This was one I’m definitely glad I read, as it grabbed me from the first page and didn’t let go, even after the very last page. Definitely pick this one up, as it is a story that absolutely deserves to be read!

Received ARC from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley

This is a short Review with NO SPOILERS from me. I want you to read the book. Thank you for the chance to be on the Blog tour for this Book.

This is a book that I normally would not read mainly the genre of the book. It did peak my interest and it was worth the read. The book is all about smells. The sense of smells. When reading this it hit a nerve that there are certain smells I wish I could smell forever to have the lasting memory.

This book kept me guessing what would happen next and take me into its world along with the main character Emmeline. It really is a magical story that will pull at your heart stings and I think you will really enjoy it. Think about if you can bottle scents that are in your life & the people you love would you want to keep them forever?


About the Author:

Erica Bauermeister is the author of the bestselling novel The School of Essential Ingredients, Joy for Beginners, and The Lost Art of Mixing. She is also the co-author of the non-fiction works, 500 Great Books by Women: A Reader’s Guide and Let’s Hear It For the Girls: 375 Great Books for Readers 2-14. She has a PhD in literature from the University of Washington, and has taught there and at Antioch University. She is a founding member of the Seattle7Writers and currently lives in Port Townsend, Washington.





About the Book:


Erica Bauermeister, the national bestselling author of The School of Essential Ingredients, presents a moving and evocative coming-of-age novel about childhood stories, families lost and found, and how a fragrance conjures memories capable of shaping the course of our lives.




Emmeline lives an enchanted childhood on a remote island with her father, who teaches her about the natural world through her senses. What he won’t explain are the mysterious scents stored in the drawers that line the walls of their cabin, or the origin of the machine that creates them. As Emmeline grows, however, so too does her curiosity, until one day the unforeseen happens, and Emmeline is vaulted out into the real world--a place of love, betrayal, ambition, and revenge. To understand her past, Emmeline must unlock the clues to her identity, a quest that challenges the limits of her heart and imagination.




Lyrical and immersive, The Scent Keeper explores the provocative beauty of scent, the way it can reveal hidden truths, lead us to the person we seek, and even help us find our way back home.




Buy Links:




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I’ll admit I struggled to get through Part 1 of this book, it started off much more like a fantasy. I typically would not gravitate toward this genre, but the fact the synopsis hinted at a coming of age story piqued my interest.

As the story went on, I became much more engrossed and found myself wishing I not only had Emmiline’s keen sense of smell but really wanted to go on her journey from remote island where only she and her father appear to reside, to the day she leaves this sheltered life and experiences an entirely different world off the island.

Bauermeister did a wonderful job weaving together the characters and developing a story that allowed the reader to connect with characters all while telling a story about how we connect scents to memories.

It is clear Bauermeister, is a wordsmith! Her ability to transform characters and environments captivated me and I wish the story did not end as quickly. I was still left with many unanswered questions, but genuinely wanted to know what was next for Emmeline.

However, I did walk away with a stronger sense that scents can really be tied to memories. and it is those scents and memories which contribute to who we are and how we navigate our world.



The best way to sum this story up is magical realism. I am so glad I stepped out of my normal genre comfort zone to read The Scent Keeper. I was fascinated by the connection of scent and memory in Emmiline’s journey and wanted to see the book through to the end.

Overall, a 4-star read.

This uniquely told story is quite beautiful. From the cover, to the richly detailed words, The Scent Keeper by Erica Bauermeister is a book I wasn't sure if I would enjoy, but I came out on the other side a better person! The book has a gloriously wonderful story, and it will also leave a little indentation on your heart and soul.

Emmeline lived with her father on an isolated island for the first 12 years of her life. There, she learned all about the world through different scents, her father teachings her how to distinguish between certain things just by the way they smell. When her father passes away, Emmeline is thrust into a whole new world. The only thing she truly has to remember her father by is the knowledge of scent.

You know how you can smell something and it'll remind you of days gone by? This is exactly how I felt while reading this book. Imagine you smell crayons, and it reminds you of being a kid, or a certain whiff of food will take you back to your grandmother's kitchen, it's those nostalgic feelings that really brought this story to life for me. Emmeline is a sweet and spunky character, who grows up in this book to carry on her father's legacy.

This is not normally a book I would pick up, but I am glad I did. The story makes me feel closer to my loved ones, and the smells that I associate with my childhood, as well as scents that bring me to different parts of my life. I loved the writing of this book as well. It was easy to read, and the pages flew by. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars, just a beautiful tale.

This is a beautifully written novel with so much to think about. I know for me, scents play such a huge part of my life. Just smelling certain things can transport me back to times I want to remember, and unfortunately to times I don't want to remember.
The cover is absolutely gorgeous, definitely invites the reader in for discoveries.
The book is divided into three sections, so I'll talk about each one:
Part one was more difficult for me to get into, I couldn't figure out what was going on for the longest time. When I completed the novel, I could look back and totally get what was happening and even why it happened, but as I was reading I was fairly lost for quite a while.
Part two was my favorite. It was much more of a straightforward coming of age section, but with Emmeline and Fisher each having unique abilities that set them apart from the others in the story.
Part three was where things kind of fell apart for me. I didn't like it as much, I know I wasn't really supposed to like some of the characters and I didn't, but it felt too forced overall. I know it was supposed to be a contrast between Emmeline's life in part one, but it was too obvious--like some of the scents Emmeline developed, it felt like the author wanted me to think and feel a certain way, and manipulated the story for that to happen. It would have been so much more effective to have layered it more subtly so that the upper, middle and lower notes of the story teased the senses instead of being so obvious about it.
Overall, this is a really fascinating and unusual tale and I loved all of the information about scents and how they affect us. I find myself paying closer attention to the scents and smells around me and how they come into play with how I think and feel.

The Scent Keeper is all about smells. Have you ever wished you could bottle up a special scent and keep it forever? This story follows Emmeline through adolescence, the loss of her father, who taught her all about scents, and her removal from the magical isolation that she grew up in. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The Scent Keeper kept me guessing what might happen from the beginning until the very last page. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to read something a bit different. My thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review

4.5 stars.

I'm honored to be part of the blog tour for Erica Bauermeister's incredibly memorable new novel, The Scent Keeper. Scents can provide some of our most potent memories, our strongest sense of time and place. It could be a perfume or cologne worn by someone you love, a freshly baked treat you remember from childhood, even the smell of the air after a rainstorm. Bauermeister's beautifully told book is an illustration of a life lived through embracing one of our strongest senses.

Emmeline lives in a cabin on a remote island with her father. It's a marvelous existence for a young girl—she has an entire island to herself to explore, and she and her father live off the land, enjoying all that nature has to offer. He teaches her how to use her senses more than anything else.

During the winter things get tough as food becomes more scarce, but she loves when her father tells her fairy tales and stories. In their cabin they are surrounded by little glass bottles which contain papers that have mysterious scents on them. Her father doesn't explain where they come from, or what the machine that creates these scent papers is, but he gives her powerful advice: "People lie, Emmeline, but smells never do."

But when she discovers the truth about the island on which they live, everything starts to change, and her father becomes more and more obsessed with the scent papers stored in their cabin, to the detriment of everything else, including himself. Without warning, Emmeline is suddenly thrust into the real world, forced to interact with people other than her father, and having to experience first-hand the violence, betrayal, and pain that people cause each other, willingly and unwillingly.

"There had been a time in my life when I had felt grown-up, capable. Now I was too scared of the world outside to leave the house. I stayed in my room mostly, telling myself the stories from my father's book of fairy tales. The girl in the red cloak, running through the trees. The genie waiting in the bottle, growing more powerful with time. The children, lost in the woods with only breadcrumbs to help them. I spoke the words in my mind, as if they could tell me how to navigate this place I'd found myself in, but the best they could do was help me forget. Still, I returned to the stories, wishing for something that would never come. An ending that had already happened."

When Emmeline learns the secrets her father kept hidden from her, she is determined to find out the truth about him and her background. She finds a world far beyond any she had imagined, where she can use her sense of smell professionally, and she finally feels like she belongs. But she also confronts one of her father's most powerful pieces of advice again, "People lie, but smells never do."

At first I felt as if The Scent Keeper was similar to Delia Owens' Where the Crawdads Sing—a story of a young girl who is more in-step with nature than people thrust into an unfamiliar and uncomfortable world. And while there are elements of that in this story, this is also a book about the family we're born into and the family we choose, understanding what—and whom—to fight for, and how our senses give us insight into human behavior we may never recognize unless we let them.

I thought this was a fascinating and beautiful book, full of gorgeously lyrical imagery (how else could Bauermeister make you understand the scents that swirled around Emmeline and the other characters) and a powerful if familiar story of love, trust, family, and our relationship with the natural world. I enjoyed reading this book immensely, even when I wanted to shake the characters for not saying what they were thinking or feeling.

This is definitely a book that made me think about the connection between scent and memory, and how when I remember certain events or people in my life, I often associate a particular smell with them. The Scent Keeper is thought-provoking and memorable.

NetGalley and St. Martin's Press provided me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!

This book will be published May 21, 2019.

Emmeline lives on an island alone with her father where they hunt smells to harvest food, and her father tries to capture the scents around them on slips of paper in glass bottles. She is fed on fairy tales and science, and learns much about the natural world around her, though little of other people or the truth of her father's sad past.
At first full of beauty and magic, stories of mermaids who bring gifts and the deep permeating of wondrous smells which enlighten the imagination. Then sorrow and heartbreak and broken promises abound, and a girl's innocent trust in a beautiful world are shattered.
These words were written by someone who intimately knows loss, pain, and loneliness, knows the shock and relentlessness of its demanding to be seen. It will bring all these things to life, to reminder, but also it will remind you to hope in fairy tales, to be proud of and to master your abilities and talents, to not fear being different. And to appreciate the beauty, especially the smells, around you.
Filled with a euphony of poetic similes, this book teaches you how to hunt for scents and to believe in magic again.