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The Library of Flowers
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Expected 5 May 26Rooted in memory and steeped in magic, The Library of Flowers is a radiant exploration of family, identity, and the expectations we inherit, perfect for anyone who has ever carried the weight of a legacy—and dared to make it their own.
For centuries, the Hua women have held sway over the courts of emperors and billionaires with their magical perfumes able to stir hearts and ensure fortunes. And in every fifth generation, an eldest daughter is born with the rarest gift of all: the ability to summon true love.
As a long-awaited fifth daughter, Lucy was supposed to be the miracle her exacting mother had been waiting for. But when her magic failed, Lucy fled Vancouver, her legacy, and the expectations that had nearly broken her. Now, years later, she runs a tiny perfume shop tucked away in Toronto's Kensington Market—crafting beautiful, perfectly ordinary scents and keeping her extraordinary past firmly behind her. That is, until a death in the family brings her home...and saddles her with an unwelcome inheritance: the centuries-old Hua family register, brimming with secrets, formulas, and forgotten truths.
As Lucy unravels the stories of the women who came before her—including the mother whose complicated heart she never could understand—she must confront the tangled threads of love, power, and identity...and ask herself whether her magic was ever truly gone, or simply waiting for her to decide for herself what it means to be a daughter of the House of Hua.
For centuries, the Hua women have held sway over the courts of emperors and billionaires with their magical perfumes able to stir hearts and ensure fortunes. And in every fifth generation, an eldest daughter is born with the rarest gift of all: the ability to summon true love.
As a long-awaited fifth daughter, Lucy was supposed to be the miracle her exacting mother had been waiting for. But when her magic failed, Lucy fled Vancouver, her legacy, and the expectations that had nearly broken her. Now, years later, she runs a tiny perfume shop tucked away in Toronto's Kensington Market—crafting beautiful, perfectly ordinary scents and keeping her extraordinary past firmly behind her. That is, until a death in the family brings her home...and saddles her with an unwelcome inheritance: the centuries-old Hua family register, brimming with secrets, formulas, and forgotten truths.
As Lucy unravels the stories of the women who came before her—including the mother whose complicated heart she never could understand—she must confront the tangled threads of love, power, and identity...and ask herself whether her magic was ever truly gone, or simply waiting for her to decide for herself what it means to be a daughter of the House of Hua.
416 pages, Paperback
Expected publication June 2, 2026
12 people are currently reading
16286 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
Want to read
May 13, 202212.05.2022 a woman who hails from a line of ancient Chinese perfumers has the power to create fragrances that bring about true love, how interesting does this sound!
October 31, 2025
I was intrigued by the synopsis and beautiful cover, but I wasn’t prepared to be swept away by such a fantastic story.
I’m confident that this story about the Hua women and their ability to control emotions with their magical moli fragrances will be a bestseller because the author has tapped into some fundamental experiences that eldest daughters endure regardless of their culture or birthplace. Being able to identify with a character, yet be intrigued by an unpredictable plot, is important for me.
I noted the camaraderie I felt with Lucy as she struggled to measure up to the expectations of her family and felt the weight of the responsibilities she bore as she upheld her cultural traditions. My emotional response was triggered when Lucy’s mom expressed her disappointment at Lucy abandoning her heritage and her gift. Distance allowed me to understand the disappointment and the reasons behind it, but the familiarity of the situation allowed me to walk in another's shoes and see how another navigated a similar experience.
I appreciated the spotlight on the symbiotic relationship between Lucy and her family. She was expected to be the foundation and the keystone to prevent them from falling apart. She didn’t want the pressure of responsibility, yet she knew she needed them. I, too, understand the double-edged sword. I liked the reminder from Lucy about the value of persevering and taking my eyes off myself and putting them on others and the future.
What a terrific book for book club!
Don’t miss this one.
I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
I’m confident that this story about the Hua women and their ability to control emotions with their magical moli fragrances will be a bestseller because the author has tapped into some fundamental experiences that eldest daughters endure regardless of their culture or birthplace. Being able to identify with a character, yet be intrigued by an unpredictable plot, is important for me.
I noted the camaraderie I felt with Lucy as she struggled to measure up to the expectations of her family and felt the weight of the responsibilities she bore as she upheld her cultural traditions. My emotional response was triggered when Lucy’s mom expressed her disappointment at Lucy abandoning her heritage and her gift. Distance allowed me to understand the disappointment and the reasons behind it, but the familiarity of the situation allowed me to walk in another's shoes and see how another navigated a similar experience.
I appreciated the spotlight on the symbiotic relationship between Lucy and her family. She was expected to be the foundation and the keystone to prevent them from falling apart. She didn’t want the pressure of responsibility, yet she knew she needed them. I, too, understand the double-edged sword. I liked the reminder from Lucy about the value of persevering and taking my eyes off myself and putting them on others and the future.
What a terrific book for book club!
Don’t miss this one.
I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
January 4, 2026
Library of Flowers by L.C. Chu - Review
4.25/5
So pleased that I won the ARC of this book. It is beautiful, sweet and a lovely story of family and how they can be torn apart and mended in unexpected ways. Lucy has some brattiness that is a little difficult to connect to, though some growth is shown and more expected off the page. I wish the mystery around the birthday scent was addressed, I feel like maybe I missed something or if there was a different piece to the book that addressed it, but was edited out. The ending felt a little rushed, but I am happily left wanting more of the Hua women and imagining the future of them.
Even half-way through I knew who in my life needed to read this book and I will happily make sure copies go their way when it is released in June 2026.
Thank you Sourcebooks and Goodreads giveaways for this opportunity to read this ARC.
4.25/5
So pleased that I won the ARC of this book. It is beautiful, sweet and a lovely story of family and how they can be torn apart and mended in unexpected ways. Lucy has some brattiness that is a little difficult to connect to, though some growth is shown and more expected off the page. I wish the mystery around the birthday scent was addressed, I feel like maybe I missed something or if there was a different piece to the book that addressed it, but was edited out. The ending felt a little rushed, but I am happily left wanting more of the Hua women and imagining the future of them.
Even half-way through I knew who in my life needed to read this book and I will happily make sure copies go their way when it is released in June 2026.
Thank you Sourcebooks and Goodreads giveaways for this opportunity to read this ARC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 10, 2025
3.8/A typical coming home story with a bit of scent and alchemy.
I loved the premise, the grip, the story writing. But it had a lot of things it could have done better. First, let me talk about the protagonist, she is 30 30-something perfumer who is running away from her legacy, her past, her family and especially her powers _ her moli.
Born in a matriarchal family of alchemists/ perfumers, Luling, aka Lucy Hua, is the 5th daughter, the redeemer, the one who will carry her legacy into the future. But as far as Lucy is concerned, she doesn't have her power. Without her power, she is dishonouring her family legacy and their power. 10 years have passed since she left behind her past and her family, but everything changes when her grandmother sends her their family register containing the stories of all the Hua women who came long before her. Her grandmother's death, a disaster with her perfumes and the return of an Old friend may change everything.
I enjoyed the story; the story writing and format were incredible, and I found myself lost in the world of perfumes and scents. I really commend the author for her extensive research on perfumes, flowers and various fragrances. The back story on other Hua women could have been developed better. I believe that most of her characters are well written but lack depth, especially the men in her family. I get that this is a woman-centric story's but the men in this story are just so poorly written. I mean, the author could have explored Eric a little more, his emotions and why he was the way he was or Lucy's father. On the other hand, women were better written, their stories, relationships and friendships were explored. Lucy's mother, Meilin, was such a complex character. I loved the mother-daughter dynamic..
I feel that the love between Lucy and Rafe could have been omitted. Their reunion, even their friendship, felt forced. People change, but after 13 years of no contact, you get a completely new person in the skin of someone familiar. It takes time and effort to rekindle a friendship after so many long years. The author could have developed a better love arc herself or none at all. It wasn't necessary for the story; I think it was enough that she found herself.
I loved the premise, the grip, the story writing. But it had a lot of things it could have done better. First, let me talk about the protagonist, she is 30 30-something perfumer who is running away from her legacy, her past, her family and especially her powers _ her moli.
Born in a matriarchal family of alchemists/ perfumers, Luling, aka Lucy Hua, is the 5th daughter, the redeemer, the one who will carry her legacy into the future. But as far as Lucy is concerned, she doesn't have her power. Without her power, she is dishonouring her family legacy and their power. 10 years have passed since she left behind her past and her family, but everything changes when her grandmother sends her their family register containing the stories of all the Hua women who came long before her. Her grandmother's death, a disaster with her perfumes and the return of an Old friend may change everything.
I enjoyed the story; the story writing and format were incredible, and I found myself lost in the world of perfumes and scents. I really commend the author for her extensive research on perfumes, flowers and various fragrances. The back story on other Hua women could have been developed better. I believe that most of her characters are well written but lack depth, especially the men in her family. I get that this is a woman-centric story's but the men in this story are just so poorly written. I mean, the author could have explored Eric a little more, his emotions and why he was the way he was or Lucy's father. On the other hand, women were better written, their stories, relationships and friendships were explored. Lucy's mother, Meilin, was such a complex character. I loved the mother-daughter dynamic..
I feel that the love between Lucy and Rafe could have been omitted. Their reunion, even their friendship, felt forced. People change, but after 13 years of no contact, you get a completely new person in the skin of someone familiar. It takes time and effort to rekindle a friendship after so many long years. The author could have developed a better love arc herself or none at all. It wasn't necessary for the story; I think it was enough that she found herself.
2026
September 30, 2025ANHPI TBR
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark
Want to read
November 11, 2025"Rooted in memory and steeped in magic, The Library of Flowers is a radiant exploration of family, identity, and the expectations we inherit, perfect for anyone who has ever carried the weight of a legacy—and dared to make it their own"
this sounds so good
this sounds so good
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
The Library of Flowers follows Luling Hua, a perfumer who comes from a long line of women with a mysterious ability tied to scent, as she navigates her complicated relationship with her mother, her fraught feelings about her craft, and the lingering fallout from a past love. As the story unfolds, the present-day narrative is interspersed with glimpses of previous Hua women, hinting at the legac, and burden, behind the family’s perfume business and its connection to love, loss, and longing.
I struggled early on with both the writing and the characters. The prose often felt awkward and difficult to settle into, and being introduced to Eric and Kelsey right away didn’t help. Both felt irritating and overly simplistic from the start. Kelsey in particular is written as such a caricature that it became distracting: snooty, entitled, and self-important in ways that felt more like shorthand than character development. I kept hoping the author would offer some redeeming qualities or added depth, but that never fully materialized.
Structurally, the book also felt uneven. The main storyline is frequently interrupted by standalone chapters focused on previous Hua women, and while I assume these are meant to provide historical context or thematic resonance, they mostly felt incomplete and distracting. Rather than enriching the story, they pulled me out of it, especially since it wasn’t always clear what purpose they served beyond vague world-building. I would have much preferred spending that time learning more about Luling herself. The first quarter of the book, in particular, felt stagnant, circling the same emotional conflicts (her strained relationship with her mother, her anxiety over her moli and her profession, and Rafe’s abandonment) without much forward momentum.
Some plot points also felt underdeveloped or unconvincing. There were also moments of vagueness and minor inconsistencies that made the story feel sloppy rather than intentionally ambiguous.
That said, there were elements I appreciated. Luling’s inner dialogue feels realistic and grounded, particularly her self-doubt and anxiety, and her reconnection with Rafe is handled with a level of restraint that felt true to two people who have been estranged for years. Their dynamic made sense emotionally, even if some of the dialogue, especially when they reminisce, felt overly scripted rather than natural. I also found Luling’s conflict with her mother believable in concept, though frustrating in execution, as she clings to unproven assumptions and refuses to let her mother explain.
Overall, The Library of Flowers has an intriguing premise and moments of emotional realism, but it never fully comes together for me. Between the uneven pacing, underdeveloped side characters, and structural choices that distracted more than they added, the book felt like it was reaching for depth it didn’t quite achieve. I can see what it’s trying to do, and I think it will work better for some readers than it did for me, but I was left feeling more frustrated than moved.
Thank you to Sourcebooks for an advance reader’s edition of this book.
I struggled early on with both the writing and the characters. The prose often felt awkward and difficult to settle into, and being introduced to Eric and Kelsey right away didn’t help. Both felt irritating and overly simplistic from the start. Kelsey in particular is written as such a caricature that it became distracting: snooty, entitled, and self-important in ways that felt more like shorthand than character development. I kept hoping the author would offer some redeeming qualities or added depth, but that never fully materialized.
Structurally, the book also felt uneven. The main storyline is frequently interrupted by standalone chapters focused on previous Hua women, and while I assume these are meant to provide historical context or thematic resonance, they mostly felt incomplete and distracting. Rather than enriching the story, they pulled me out of it, especially since it wasn’t always clear what purpose they served beyond vague world-building. I would have much preferred spending that time learning more about Luling herself. The first quarter of the book, in particular, felt stagnant, circling the same emotional conflicts (her strained relationship with her mother, her anxiety over her moli and her profession, and Rafe’s abandonment) without much forward momentum.
Some plot points also felt underdeveloped or unconvincing. There were also moments of vagueness and minor inconsistencies that made the story feel sloppy rather than intentionally ambiguous.
That said, there were elements I appreciated. Luling’s inner dialogue feels realistic and grounded, particularly her self-doubt and anxiety, and her reconnection with Rafe is handled with a level of restraint that felt true to two people who have been estranged for years. Their dynamic made sense emotionally, even if some of the dialogue, especially when they reminisce, felt overly scripted rather than natural. I also found Luling’s conflict with her mother believable in concept, though frustrating in execution, as she clings to unproven assumptions and refuses to let her mother explain.
Overall, The Library of Flowers has an intriguing premise and moments of emotional realism, but it never fully comes together for me. Between the uneven pacing, underdeveloped side characters, and structural choices that distracted more than they added, the book felt like it was reaching for depth it didn’t quite achieve. I can see what it’s trying to do, and I think it will work better for some readers than it did for me, but I was left feeling more frustrated than moved.
Thank you to Sourcebooks for an advance reader’s edition of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thanks to Sourcebooks for an advanced review copy of this book!
This book started my year off so strong. I absolutely loved it.
Lucy comes from a long line of women of magical women. The oldest Hua daughter has a moli, a magic she can work through the perfumes the family makes. Every fifth generation, that moli has the power to call one's true love. Except Lucy's moli doesn't work.
Having run from home and the heavy expectations of upholding the family legacy, Lucy is making her own way in the world, selling non-magical perfumes in her own shop. However, her grandmother's death brings her back home and entangles her in the Hua family story once more.
This is a beautiful story of family, legacy, finding one's own way, and the meaning of love. Lucy is infuriating as a character, and I mean that as a compliment to the author's skills. The romance is light and works as a nice side story to Lucy's journey. The historical bits woven through are wonderful, and I could have spent several pages more with these women. I have to confess I have become utterly fascinated by the art and history of perfume making now.
The men fall a bit flat in comparison to the female characters, but as this is a story of women, I can forgive the lack of depth there. I adored Ana, and the relationship between Lucy and her mom was really well written. This book is a solid 5 stars for me, and the cover is gorgeous! It is absolutely living face out on my bookshelves now.
This book started my year off so strong. I absolutely loved it.
Lucy comes from a long line of women of magical women. The oldest Hua daughter has a moli, a magic she can work through the perfumes the family makes. Every fifth generation, that moli has the power to call one's true love. Except Lucy's moli doesn't work.
Having run from home and the heavy expectations of upholding the family legacy, Lucy is making her own way in the world, selling non-magical perfumes in her own shop. However, her grandmother's death brings her back home and entangles her in the Hua family story once more.
This is a beautiful story of family, legacy, finding one's own way, and the meaning of love. Lucy is infuriating as a character, and I mean that as a compliment to the author's skills. The romance is light and works as a nice side story to Lucy's journey. The historical bits woven through are wonderful, and I could have spent several pages more with these women. I have to confess I have become utterly fascinated by the art and history of perfume making now.
The men fall a bit flat in comparison to the female characters, but as this is a story of women, I can forgive the lack of depth there. I adored Ana, and the relationship between Lucy and her mom was really well written. This book is a solid 5 stars for me, and the cover is gorgeous! It is absolutely living face out on my bookshelves now.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
An enchanting story of women perfume makers who capture magic in their scents to control emotions and may even lead you to your true love.
Lucy descends from Hua women perfecting the craft of perfumes dating back to the Tang Dynasty in China. Lucy unfortunately has not been able to deliver a perfume leading customers to their true love, which has led her to seek her own way. Lucy has spent her life running from expectations and rejection and now struggles with loneliness and self-doubt. When her grandmother passes away, she inherits the stories of her ancestors and starts to question how she can find her legacy.
This is an intricate story that slowly brings out your emotions and has you wanting your own signature scent from a Hua. At the core of the story is Lucy’s broken relationship with her mother and resistance to face her part in her family’s legacy. Lucy cannot connect with anyone because she gets in the way of herself. Her friends, Ana and Rafe, help her to see the value of friendship and reliance on others not as a weakness but a strength. As mother and daughter mend their bond and Lucy breaks down the barriers she has built, she learns who she is and what she is truly capable of achieving. This lovely book shows the enduring bonds of love and family while weaving a story of perfume making through the centuries.
Thank you L.C. Chu, Sourcebooks, and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.
Lucy descends from Hua women perfecting the craft of perfumes dating back to the Tang Dynasty in China. Lucy unfortunately has not been able to deliver a perfume leading customers to their true love, which has led her to seek her own way. Lucy has spent her life running from expectations and rejection and now struggles with loneliness and self-doubt. When her grandmother passes away, she inherits the stories of her ancestors and starts to question how she can find her legacy.
This is an intricate story that slowly brings out your emotions and has you wanting your own signature scent from a Hua. At the core of the story is Lucy’s broken relationship with her mother and resistance to face her part in her family’s legacy. Lucy cannot connect with anyone because she gets in the way of herself. Her friends, Ana and Rafe, help her to see the value of friendship and reliance on others not as a weakness but a strength. As mother and daughter mend their bond and Lucy breaks down the barriers she has built, she learns who she is and what she is truly capable of achieving. This lovely book shows the enduring bonds of love and family while weaving a story of perfume making through the centuries.
Thank you L.C. Chu, Sourcebooks, and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.
January 21, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for this advanced reader’s copy!
Where is the line between a gift and a curse? If you ask Lucy Hua, it starts somewhere between the pressure of familial expectations and the desire for perfection.
I thought this book was great. I love magical realism, and I think this book toed the line between fantasy and reality really well. I loved the relationships explored between Lucy (who I connected to on a deep level), her mother, her ex-love turned neighbor, Rafe, and her coworker and best friend Ana. More importantly, I think the storytelling of Lucy’s perfectionism, rebellion, self-confidence, and identity was well-written and captivating. I also thought showcasing that true-heart’s desire is not solely based on finding another person.
The one dangling thread I take issue with is that Lucy’s mother’s blank scent sent on Lucy’s 33rd birthday is brought up and never followed through on. It remains a mystery and that’s really unfortunate.
That being said, I walked away from this book feeling satisfied and happy for Lucy, and for all the future Hua women who are free to choose what and who they want in the future.
Where is the line between a gift and a curse? If you ask Lucy Hua, it starts somewhere between the pressure of familial expectations and the desire for perfection.
I thought this book was great. I love magical realism, and I think this book toed the line between fantasy and reality really well. I loved the relationships explored between Lucy (who I connected to on a deep level), her mother, her ex-love turned neighbor, Rafe, and her coworker and best friend Ana. More importantly, I think the storytelling of Lucy’s perfectionism, rebellion, self-confidence, and identity was well-written and captivating. I also thought showcasing that true-heart’s desire is not solely based on finding another person.
The one dangling thread I take issue with is that Lucy’s mother’s blank scent sent on Lucy’s 33rd birthday is brought up and never followed through on. It remains a mystery and that’s really unfortunate.
That being said, I walked away from this book feeling satisfied and happy for Lucy, and for all the future Hua women who are free to choose what and who they want in the future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2025
This was such a beautifully written story. It feels soft and emotional in a way that slowly wraps around you. The focus on scent, memory, and heritage made everything feel vivid and layered. I enjoyed sinking into the world of perfumes and family traditions, especially how it shaped Lucy’s life in ways she didn’t fully understand until she was forced to return home.
Lucy’s journey felt honest. She’s caught between who she was raised to be and who she wants to become, and that struggle came through clearly. The family moments were some of my favorites, especially the ones that showed how complicated love can be across generations. The writing has this dreamlike quality that pulled me in, and I found myself lingering over certain lines just to feel them fully.
Some parts moved more slowly than others, but the emotional payoff was worth it. I didn’t need the romance as much as I hoped for more growth and reflection, and thankfully Lucy did get that.
Cozy: ☕☕☕☕
Magic: ✨✨✨
Emotion: 💧💧💧
A tender, atmospheric read full of heart, identity, and the quiet power of returning to your roots.
Lucy’s journey felt honest. She’s caught between who she was raised to be and who she wants to become, and that struggle came through clearly. The family moments were some of my favorites, especially the ones that showed how complicated love can be across generations. The writing has this dreamlike quality that pulled me in, and I found myself lingering over certain lines just to feel them fully.
Some parts moved more slowly than others, but the emotional payoff was worth it. I didn’t need the romance as much as I hoped for more growth and reflection, and thankfully Lucy did get that.
Cozy: ☕☕☕☕
Magic: ✨✨✨
Emotion: 💧💧💧
A tender, atmospheric read full of heart, identity, and the quiet power of returning to your roots.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Full of heart and deep emotion, this one unfolded slowly, but was interesting and enjoyable, nonetheless. It explored the crushing weight of self-doubt so often caused by societal and familial expectations, and what it feels like to come out from under that. While the relationship between Lucy and her mother was central to the story, one of my favorite characters was Ana. The friendship between Lucy and Ana really resonated with me, and I loved their quirky little shop and their creative collaborations! I would have liked a little more development of the male characters, such as Rafe, Eric, and Lucy's father. Also, I'm not altogether certain it should have been titled The Library of Flowers, because there was so much more to it than that. To be fair though, I had a hard time coming up with something better.
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January 1, 2026The Library of Flowers is the story of Lucy Hua, a women who feels she was a disappointment to her family and fled once she was an adult. Upon her grandmother's death, she returns home and unravels her inheritance and the history that comes with it.
Written in the first person, it drives Lucy's thoughts and actions home. However, Lucy is hard on herself and that negativity comes through. At the book's end, there is a glossary of perfume terminology to help readers and a book club guide. It's good to see the ethnic variety in writing, but I much prefer the Asian-ethnicity books by Lily Chu, which while lacking a historical aspect, are at least fun reads.
This review is based on an advanced reader copy provided by the publisher.
Written in the first person, it drives Lucy's thoughts and actions home. However, Lucy is hard on herself and that negativity comes through. At the book's end, there is a glossary of perfume terminology to help readers and a book club guide. It's good to see the ethnic variety in writing, but I much prefer the Asian-ethnicity books by Lily Chu, which while lacking a historical aspect, are at least fun reads.
This review is based on an advanced reader copy provided by the publisher.
September 28, 2025
This is such a stunning book that explores how often family history can be a curse on one’s plans for the future. As Lucy seeks to break out on her own, she’s tested by an ancient family gift that is said to touch the 5th daughter in her family’s lineage. The plot genre bends between rom-com, contemporary fiction and magical realism to deliver a beautiful story about ambition, redemption and connection to the past. I adored the dual timelines and strong female characters. I learned a lot about ancient Chinese fragrance, while remaining enthralled in the present day plot. A Must Read!
October 24, 2025
What makes this book utterly compelling is the masterful way Chu weaves together the central narrative with exquisite, yet profound, flashbacks. These glimpses into other centuries—from quiet, shadowed Victorian gardens to bustling medieval markets—are not merely historical anecdotes; they are beautifully integrated windows into the past lives and accumulated wisdom of the characters. This centuries-spanning structure lends the entire story an incredible depth, making the main mystery feel rich and weighted by the passage of time.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Very fresh and interesting read for a market that's inundated with drivel. Beautiful descriptions of scent that make you want to run out and buy perfume! I wanted to rate this higher, but coulAi Ai. seem to relate to the main character. It seemed that she interpreted EVERYTHING anyone said ir did as insulting or coming from a place of malice. She acted like a bratty 16 year old for 3/4 of the book. I also wanted more of the flashbacks to previous Hua women, especially with Aiai to flesh out the mystery and importance of the Hua line. Great potential, just didn't hit quite right for me.
November 27, 2025
Lucy wants nothing to do with her family’s centuries-long tradition of being the purveyors of magical perfumes. What was bestowed on her being the Fifth daughter she hasn’t been able to develop in her own perfume formulas. Shortly after her grandmother dies, her world is turned upside down and Lucy finds herself questioning everything. As the threads of love, family and inheritance unravel, Lucy finally discovers the true meaning behind her power and where she truly belongs.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Thank you to good reads for this advanced reading copy giveaway. I mostly enjoyed this book, however i mostly skipped through the flashback to past generations as i just didn't feel it brought much to the story. I could have done with less fighting between mom and daughter about her moli but overall it was an enjoyable read
November 2, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this uncorrected proof to read and review. Sorry, but I was not a fan. I could have done without the fictionalized/fantasy background of the 5th daughters as I felt it confused more than enhanced the read.
October 2, 2025
3.5 stars. While this book was slow to start, I ended up liking it a lot more than I thought I would. True love doesn’t always have to be romantic, and I think that’s an important message.
Ana was the only character I found likable throughout the story, but Lucy and mom did redeem themselves in the end.
I enjoyed the present day portions quite a bit more than the historical ones. I’m not sure why I found the past harder to follow, maybe just due to not knowing those characters.
**ARC review. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read it early.
Ana was the only character I found likable throughout the story, but Lucy and mom did redeem themselves in the end.
I enjoyed the present day portions quite a bit more than the historical ones. I’m not sure why I found the past harder to follow, maybe just due to not knowing those characters.
**ARC review. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read it early.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
urj4j4krk
November 28, 2025
I hate luling so much in a very loving way(she's too real, all of them are)
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rtc
October 24, 2025
4.75 🌟
Beyond a beautiful cover, this book was beautifully written.
I absolutely loved this book. I loved the growth we saw in Lucy and the solution to her moli was perfect. The relationships she has and growth she experiences with them throughout the book was great. Ana was a wonderful side character. If you like historical books sprinkled with a little magic, run and grab this book!
Thanks, Netgalley for the ARC of this book!
Beyond a beautiful cover, this book was beautifully written.
I absolutely loved this book. I loved the growth we saw in Lucy and the solution to her moli was perfect. The relationships she has and growth she experiences with them throughout the book was great. Ana was a wonderful side character. If you like historical books sprinkled with a little magic, run and grab this book!
Thanks, Netgalley for the ARC of this book!
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