I very rarely give 1 star ratings so for me to do so is a biggie. I don’t consider myself to be a fast reader, but it generally takes me an average of 3 days to read a book, with the exception of long books so the fact that it took me an entire week for this shows why it’s a 1 star book in my opinion.
Asha Patel has always had a super sensitive nose, or as her family calls it “a super nose”. She puts her talent of being able to smell layers of scents in an item to use by becoming a perfumer, working for one of the most prestigious companies in Paris. She’s working hard to become a Master Perfumer, but all of that is halted when she loses her sense of smell after a mild a case of Covid. After losing a big client for getting the scent wrong, she flies home to Napa, Ca to figure out what do to next. Her grandmother refuses to believe this is the end to Asha’s super nose and tries different remedies. In addition, Asha reconnects with her past love and tries to figure out who she is without her powerful sense of smell.
The premise of this must have sounded good to me in order for me to have picked it, but I found the entire thing to be one big bore. It didn’t hold my attention in the slightest and I found the best character to be Mimi, Asha’s grandmother’s best friend. The writing was not only not entertaining, but I found the whole premise of getting backstory in by having the characters talk about the past as memories to each other to be lacking and added to the boredom. The moments they were reliving did nothing to move the story and could have been left out. This entire book felt very flat and I couldn’t wait for it to be finished. Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advanced copy of this. This hits shelves on June 13th.

Thank you Netgalley, author Namrata Patel, and publisher Lake Union Publishing for providing an ARC in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own :)
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Maybe I'm a sucker for women's fiction, but I loved Scent of a Garden. The characters all felt rich and alive; not just the main character, Asha, but her family and her friends and her coworkers, too. Even if a coworker just stopped by her cubicle for a quick chat, I felt like they had a full life outside of that interaction. One character was never even seen directly on page, as he was the fairly new significant-other of Asha's friend, and he was referred to only as "The Man", i.e. "I'm with the man right now, he's making dinner," and he still managed to feel three dimensional.

My favorite part about this book, though, was how life did not simply stop around Asha. Asha's lived in Paris for the last decade and a half, with her family back in California. Her family has a group chat, her grandmothers are part of a gang of grannies that terrorize local wineries, her best friend is climbing the ranks of a hotel corporation, her high school sweetheart is dating other people. Life goes on without Asha there, because that's how it works in the real world. Many fiction novels will have life seemingly stop because the main character isn't around, "We were waiting for you!" but that does not happen here and I love it. And when Asha goes home to California, her friends in Paris don't stop living, either. The company Asha works for keeps gaining clients even though she's not there, her friends in Paris make plans and socialize without her. Asha may be the main character of Scent of a Garden, but she doesn't have "main character energy" in the best way possible. She's just a person, like any of us, and that makes her relatable.

This book definitely ends with a "Happy For Now" ending. It's not a "Happily Ever After", because things aren't perfect. Some things don't get resolved by the end of the book, some relationships are still strained, and probably always will be. But some things do get resolved, maybe not how Asha wanted, but resolved in a way she can accept and be happy. I feel like that just makes this book that much more powerful: Asha doesn't get everything she wants, and at times, she's outright told no! But she makes do, perseveres, and finds alternatives, and there's definitely a kind of strength to that. I think it takes a talented author to deliver a story that isn't all rainbows and roses, but is still deeply satisfying.

My one critique, if I have to have one, is this book is a bit predictable. Some situations lined up in such a way that, while reading, I couldn't help but think that something was too big of a coincidence, or that something was a real convenient solution or opportunity. In some cases, I was about 40% through the book and thought to myself "You know, I bet..." and when I got to 99%, I'd been right. Every single time. This wasn't disappointing enough to deter me from enjoying the story line, it was just an observation I was able to make from miles away.

Upon further reflection, that could be the reason Scent of a Garden, for me, fell a little shy of 5 stars. I wasn't surprised at any point, and didn't have any really strong emotional reactions, just a few moments of "Yeah, that's relatable. Oh girl, I been there. Ha! Mangos!" *IYKYK*. But it was still enjoyable, and still, in my opinion, masterfully written. I've got some more of Patel's works on my TBR and if they're anything like this, I know I'm gonna love 'em.

With a unique setting, Scent of a Garden by Namrata Patel tells a story about self-discovery. The book touches on the topics of dreams, passion, family and having a sense of belonging, topped with a sprinkle of second-chance romance.

Summary: Asha “Poppy” Patel is a perfumer gifted with a heightened sense of smell. However, she partially lost it after getting infected with COVID. She is made to take a vacation from work after making a mistake and returns home to Napa Valley, where she reconnects with her family and friends.

Tropes/Genres:
• general fiction
• second-chance romance
• small town (hometown)
• asian american (Gujarati, Indian)
• family legacy
• perfume

Review: As I’ve mentioned above, this book has a unique setting. I haven’t read a book that has a perfumer MC. I also haven’t read a book with an MC who’s lost her sense of smell. AND I haven’t read a book that’s set in a world where COVID exists. And this book did a great job integrating it because it feels so legitimate. It’s involved in a major plot point of the story.

A part of this book that didn’t work for me was the romance. I mean, it was fine. But I was more interested in Asha’s personal growth and whether she would continue pursuing her perfuming career. It feels like this book could’ve done without a love line. I also didn’t have any particular attachment towards the characters. I can tell that they’re well-developed and unique, but I couldn’t feel connected to them.

I think the story could’ve been more succinct, as it felt a bit repetitive. You can summarise the entire book with these few points: Asha is back in California. Her mother wants her to go back to Paris to pursue her perfuming career. Her father wants her to stay in Napa Valley and take over the hotel. Neel doesn’t show enough affection, and Asha is sad, but she’s the one who pushed him away in the first place. That’s basically the whole essence of the story, and it doesn’t move anywhere for at least half of the book.

However, the author did a great job describing how Asha’s super nose works! I like the way the fragrances were described. I also gained a bit of insight into how the fragrance industry works. She also showed a family dynamic that’s realistic and familiar to many. Asha’s dad annoyed me. But it’s nice how the author showed her parents’ points of view, so readers can see that they didn’t mean anything harmful. Children often don’t understand their parents until they become one themselves (or, well, talk to them), and I’m glad they did.

Readers with Gujarati backgrounds would certainly enjoy this story a lot. I think it’s quite uncommon to see this culture in the literary world, so I’m sure they’ll be elated to see the representation. I think readers who want to read a book focusing on a character’s personal growth would like this too!

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

It's devastating for a perfumer to lose her sense of smell but that's what happened to Poppy. And so she retreats from Paris to home- in the Napa Valley. Things are not as she remembered though and she must find a new path. I liked this for the family scenes, the characters , and the details of making perfume. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A delightful and easy read.

Perfume, tea, gardens and hilarious grandmothers. Poppy must return to her family home after being away for a long time. She has the pressure of a lot of expectations put upon her by her family. I was compelled by the story that starts in Paris and ends in Napa Valley and the family business. It takes some time for Poppy to unwind and start standing up for herself. Her Indian grandmothers helped her along the way and they were quite entertaining. The author was able to capture a lot of family dynamic while maintaining a light read feel to the book. I did think the romance in the book was a bit stilted. I did enjoy the ending and overall a good read!

First off, I absolutely love the cultural details! I grew up with an Indian best friend and I loved seeing some of her culture represented!!

This story follows Asha, an up and coming perfume maker. Except she ends up hitting a couple roadblocks in her career and is forced to go on a vacation. She ends up coming back home to spend time with her family and she realizes how lonely she has been since moving to Paris. She goes on a self love and discovery journey to find what makes her happy again.

I loved this story! I loved the family dynamics and the cultural details! I also am a huge tea lover so I adore how that was incorporated. I totally hope there’s a second book about Millie and her man that will give more beautiful details about Asha and her man.

I really enjoyed this layered story about
families, expectations, callings, and much more. I was drawn into the theme of the
power of the sense of smell and how much it enriches life. I also really enjoyed the themes of Indian immigrants and how the generations to follow make a life in the U.S.. Beautifully told!

A story about the struggle of finding one's own passion and path vs. family obligation and traditions, these are topics which all speak to me. To be an adult and unsure about what is it you want and how to move forward, to feel left out and left behind by friends and family when you move to another country are all things that I can relate to,

So after some initial struggle to get into the book, I found it an easy read, finishing in just a couple of days. I was slow to get into this book as I found the extensive descriptions and brand dropping of Poppy's outfits off-putting and quite unnecessary. But thanksfully this subsides after the first few chapters and only returns a little near the end of the novel.

I enjoyed the details about perfume making and the insights into the industry. It's really a topic I knew very little about. The descriptions about the beauty of Napa Valley would make any reader want to plan a trip there as soon as possible, it also gave me a hankering for Indian chai! Sadly the descriptions of Paris don't invoke quite the same urgancy to visit.

All in all, an enjoyable, thought provoking, easy read.


**Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

An absolute corker . . . totally engrossing and superbly written five stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Recommend to all

"Scent of a Garden" by Namrata Patel is a captivating and enchanting novel. Set against the backdrop of Napa Valley, this beautifully written story follows the life of Asha "Poppy" Patel, a talented perfumer in Paris whose world is shattered when she loses her sense of smell.Poppy's character is beautifully developed, showcasing her growth and transformation throughout the story. The supporting cast, including her complex family and childhood friends, adds depth and nuance to the narrative.

Namrata Patel's novel is a heartfelt and evocative exploration of identity and family. "Scent of a Garden" will resonate with readers who appreciate lush descriptions, strong character development, and stories that inspire self-discovery and personal growth.

Loved this book about Asha who is a Paris perfumer who has a nose for scent and creates specialised perfumes for people. It is a great insight on how a perfume is created and how they create a certain kind of perfume.
When Asha loses her sense of smell she goes back home to the Napa valley where her parents run a successful hotel and her best friend Neel and her grandmothers who are in a group called the Nanis of Napa who are a wild bunch of older women having fun and I loved their adventures.
I really enjoyed the descriptions of the Napa valley and what is entailed in running a hotel, you feel part of Asha's rediscovery of her home and what the future holds.
Thoroughly enjoyed and would highly recommend.
Thanks to NetGalley & Lake Union Publishing for a ARC for a honest review.

This book lost my interest pretty early on, I’m sorry to say. The writing quality is nowhere near as good as with Meena Dave, which I adored.

I was so excited to get approved for this book! 🎉🎉🎉

I loved this story about Asha aka Poppy and finding her joy and passion in life. Asha was born with a gift and it helped launch her career in creating exquisite perfume. But when she got sick and lost the one thing she thought defined her, she went to the last place she was truly happy... She went home.

My favourite characters were the Nanis of Napa! Oh what a joy to be so free and full of life. Not caring about what others think or others perceptions... Guess that comes with maturity and age! 😅😉

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this wonderful story!

Poppy is a perfumer in Paris who has a gifted sense of smell. However, when she loses that sense of smell one day, she goes back home to California. She discovers there the land she remembers is not the same. Poppy must rediscover who she is.

This one was just ok for me. I think it was mostly writing style, which is a personal choice. Others who have read the author's other book might enjoy this one more.

Imagine a dab of your favorite perfume. If you close your eyes, take a deep breath, can you imagine the scents? Can you peel back the layers, find the florals, the herbs, the spices, the musk? Can you distill each essence into its respective parts, weigh the quantities, the right mixture to make magic? Have you ever considered the people who do just that?

Poppy's elevated sense of smell has always defined how she moves through the world, now on a trajectory leading right to her dreams of becoming a renowned Master Perfumer. That is, until a bout of illness robs her of her most prized sense, and puts her dreams in jeopardy. With nowhere else to turn, Poppy returns to her grandmother's fragrant garden where she first found her gift to rediscover not only her sense of smell, but the sense of self and the family she no longer recognises.

This was a fascinating read, I've never really considered what goes into making a perfume, how to balance and layer scents to create something appealling and unique. It was also the first time I saw the panini integrated into a book, while not really being the focus of it. Yes it was the catalyst for the story, but it wasn't the centre of it, and it made me wonder if and how authors will address the past few years in future books.

Poppy herself was exasperating at times, I hated how she treated Neel at times. But her identity crisis and the complex relationships with her family gave her nuance that made me like her despite myself. I love a story with complicated family dynamics, so this was right up my alley. Poppy's family was interesting, but fingers crossed that we get to see Neel and Millie's family drama play out.

Also, shoutout to the Nanis of Napa, and wondering if they accept people under 35. Asking for a friend. This book was like one of Poppy's perfumes, heavier notes of deep hurt and identity buoyed by love, laughs and a healthy dose of business savvy.

Scent of a Garden
By Narmata Patel
Pub Date: June 13, 2023
Lake Union
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
The author is an Indian American author who resides in Boston.
The novel was a slow start for me, although I did enjoy the pacing later in the book as I enjoyed the Womans self discovery in her dream, family and love,
3 stars

This book was a great escape into the world of scent and the various ways that our senses affect our quality of life. While appreciation for nature, herbs and flowers was the main theme, the story as a whole is a lesson in the generational struggles of immigrant and minority families in America.

While there weren’t really any surprises or a-ha moments in this book, it was enjoyable overall. Just the right balance of familiar and fresh!

Asha is a perfumer and works for International Flavors and Fragrances in Paris. When her sense of smell is lost, she returns to her home in California. It was in her grandmother's garden where she first realized her ability and was hoping that being back in the garden would help her regain a sense of smell. The book cover for Scent of a Garden is beautiful and captured my attention. Unfortunately, the storyline itself did not and I just couldn't get into the story. I could not relate to the characters. Thanks to the author, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for providing a complimentary copy of this ebook. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Scent of a Garden by Namrata Patel is an absorbing story of family dynamics, friendship, ambitions, and self-discovery.

Scent of a Garden is a well-researched book. I loved reading all about perfumes and teas. Strong family dynamics lie at the core of this story, while Asha’s desire to succeed and carve a name for herself is the main underlying theme thread. I loved the Desai and Patel camaraderie, especially the extended family WhatsApp group, and the grandmothers who are breaking barriers. Kudos to Patel for steering away from stereotyping Indian Americans.

The story has three main female protagonists. Asha, Sapna, and Leela. All of them are strong and have their distinct voices. All these characters are relatable and well-sketched. Their varied family dynamics make the narration interesting. Asha’s relationship with her mother and grandmother is diametrically opposite and well described. Apart from them, the two Desai women play important roles.

Among the other characters, I loved Neel the most. I could go on and on about his laid-back attitude, sense of humour, relationship with his sister and grannies, cooking skills… Lemme just say… I will remember Neel for a long time.

Patel uses many Gujarati references. While I enjoyed reading them, readers unfamiliar with the language and culture might struggle a bit.

The Napa Valley settings are really descriptive and transported me miles away from my bedroom. It’s a slow-paced novel, but that didn’t hamper my reading experience.

Patel describes the struggle of three generations of women, and I could relate with each of them. The Nanis of Napa Valley are a delectable bunch of senior women. Some serious life goals there! It was interesting to see Asha’s progression as she dived deeper into the search for her identity.

Overall, I enjoyed most of the novel, except for Asha’s behaviour around Neel. It was contrasting with her character sketch. The ending was as I expected, but for some reason, it was rushed. I would have loved it even more if the author had shed light on the changed family dynamics at the end. The narration is slightly repetitive in the middle and the novel would have been equally enjoyable even if it was shorter by more than a dozen-odd pages.

Scent of a Garden is a wonderful story exploring interesting themes.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the arc of this book.

Wordsopedia rating 3.9/5

I genuinely enjoyed this story about a perfumer who lost her sense of smell during Covid.

As the daughter of Napa Valley hoteliers, Asha "Poppy" Patel has an important decision to make, or will she wait for her sense of smell to return? She leaves Paris, where she was working, to return home to California with the question lingering over her head.

This story was well-written, and I loved reading about her family. The dynamics were on point. She also has a family friend named Neel, who I hope the author will write about in future books about this family. Scent of A Garden is a feel-good story with enough drama to hold your attention. I enjoyed meeting some of her family members, who I hope to read about in a future book. These characters have more stories to give us.