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Full Bloom

A Novel

Author Francesca Serritella
Hardcover
$30.00 US
Ballantine Group | Ballantine Books
6-1/8"W x 9-1/4"H | 22 oz | 12 per carton
On sale Aug 05, 2025 | 416 Pages | 9780525510390
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The power to be seen. The power to be heard. The power to be adored. . .

A woman’s life is forever changed by a mysterious perfume in this stunning novel about ambition and untapped desire from the New York Times bestselling author of Ghosts of Harvard.

“An absolutely gorgeous read—the perfect combination of romance, mystery, and magical realism, with a vibrant cast of characters.”—Sarah MacLean, author of These Summer Storms

Reeling from a breakup and overlooked at her job as a lighting designer, Iris Sunnegren finds herself stuck, disconnected, and lonely in crowded New York City. Her wealthy friends are married and having babies, while she’s trying to pay for freezing her eggs. And the future she longs for feels out of reach.

Then, a mysterious neighbor, an older Frenchwoman, makes her a gift: a bespoke perfume.

One spritz, a dab behind the ears, and Iris feels like a different woman. Suddenly, she is the object of every man’s desire, and she can satisfy her own hungers for sex, love, and ambition. She can cast off her inhibitions and use her newfound allure to dazzle the high-profile client, attract a man who excites her like no other, and access all the rarified spaces that once excluded her. Invigorated by the perfume, Iris embodies her maximum power—a flower fully bloomed.

But there is danger in connecting to our primal emotions. Scent awakens buried memories, and nightmares of the childhood house fire she barely survived return to haunt her. As Iris ventures deeper into the glamorous and male-dominated worlds of New York real estate, dimly-lit steakhouses, and beachfront mansions in the Hamptons, she finds herself getting closer to unspeakable truths—about the people she trusted, about the people she loved, and about the new circle of power-players that invited her in.

A sensual and seductive novel set among the upper echelons of New York City, Full Bloom is at once a poignant story of becoming and a riveting mystery that asks: Who are you without your inhibitions? Does being wanted get you what you want, or will you be devoured by desire?
“Francesca Serritella’s Full Bloom is an absolutely gorgeous read—the perfect combination of romance, mystery, and magical realism, with a vibrant cast of characters who will make you wish you were a part of Iris’s world. Here is a big, juicy story that will linger long after you've closed the book.”—Sarah MacLean, New York Times bestselling author of These Summer Storms

“I love Full Bloom. Charged with emotion, it is a masterful portrait of one of the most intriguing characters I’ve ever met. With elegant prose and an insider’s knowledge of New York City, Francesca Serritella has created a dazzling world that draws us in and makes us feel we are wandering the brownstone-lined streets and hidden gardens of Greenwich Village. She writes of Iris’s longings and desires, passion and regrets, and she understands the art and science of love. What a wonderful novel!”—Luanne Rice, New York Times bestselling author of Last Night

“Francesca Serritella is a literary wonder. Atmospheric and lush, Full Bloom is the story of Iris, so overwhelmed by life that only a miracle could set her free. With one spritz of an elixir, Iris is able to explore her potent past and visit the magical possibilities of her future. Serritella’s elegant prose includes a top note of originality, a middle note of pure heart, and a base note of self-discovery. A sensory feast for readers everywhere.”—Adriana Trigiani, New York Times bestselling author of The View from Lake Como

“Beautifully written . . . This engaging story is part mystery, part romance, and infused with a hint of magic; an excellent choice for book groups.”—Library Journal

“A delightful premise evolves into a sexy romp, then deepens further into an exploration of trauma, power, and responsibility. . . . Serritella balances whimsy alongside a melancholic sense of grief. Iris’ longing is so intensely rendered that it verges on painful. Readers are gifted with a heartfelt story of ambition and resilience. This novel would make an excellent pick for book groups; in addition to its heady themes, it’s sure to spark curiosity about (and within) the world of perfume.”—Booklist
© Nina Subin
Francesca Serritella is the New York Times bestselling author of Ghosts of Harvard, nominated for Best First Novel by International Thriller Writers, and a nine-book series of essay collections co-written with her mother, bestselling author Lisa Scottoline, and based on their Sunday column in The Philadelphia Inquirer. She graduated cum laude from Harvard University, where she won multiple awards for her fiction, including the Thomas T. Hoopes Prize. View titles by Francesca Serritella

About

The power to be seen. The power to be heard. The power to be adored. . .

A woman’s life is forever changed by a mysterious perfume in this stunning novel about ambition and untapped desire from the New York Times bestselling author of Ghosts of Harvard.

“An absolutely gorgeous read—the perfect combination of romance, mystery, and magical realism, with a vibrant cast of characters.”—Sarah MacLean, author of These Summer Storms

Reeling from a breakup and overlooked at her job as a lighting designer, Iris Sunnegren finds herself stuck, disconnected, and lonely in crowded New York City. Her wealthy friends are married and having babies, while she’s trying to pay for freezing her eggs. And the future she longs for feels out of reach.

Then, a mysterious neighbor, an older Frenchwoman, makes her a gift: a bespoke perfume.

One spritz, a dab behind the ears, and Iris feels like a different woman. Suddenly, she is the object of every man’s desire, and she can satisfy her own hungers for sex, love, and ambition. She can cast off her inhibitions and use her newfound allure to dazzle the high-profile client, attract a man who excites her like no other, and access all the rarified spaces that once excluded her. Invigorated by the perfume, Iris embodies her maximum power—a flower fully bloomed.

But there is danger in connecting to our primal emotions. Scent awakens buried memories, and nightmares of the childhood house fire she barely survived return to haunt her. As Iris ventures deeper into the glamorous and male-dominated worlds of New York real estate, dimly-lit steakhouses, and beachfront mansions in the Hamptons, she finds herself getting closer to unspeakable truths—about the people she trusted, about the people she loved, and about the new circle of power-players that invited her in.

A sensual and seductive novel set among the upper echelons of New York City, Full Bloom is at once a poignant story of becoming and a riveting mystery that asks: Who are you without your inhibitions? Does being wanted get you what you want, or will you be devoured by desire?

Praise

“Francesca Serritella’s Full Bloom is an absolutely gorgeous read—the perfect combination of romance, mystery, and magical realism, with a vibrant cast of characters who will make you wish you were a part of Iris’s world. Here is a big, juicy story that will linger long after you've closed the book.”—Sarah MacLean, New York Times bestselling author of These Summer Storms

“I love Full Bloom. Charged with emotion, it is a masterful portrait of one of the most intriguing characters I’ve ever met. With elegant prose and an insider’s knowledge of New York City, Francesca Serritella has created a dazzling world that draws us in and makes us feel we are wandering the brownstone-lined streets and hidden gardens of Greenwich Village. She writes of Iris’s longings and desires, passion and regrets, and she understands the art and science of love. What a wonderful novel!”—Luanne Rice, New York Times bestselling author of Last Night

“Francesca Serritella is a literary wonder. Atmospheric and lush, Full Bloom is the story of Iris, so overwhelmed by life that only a miracle could set her free. With one spritz of an elixir, Iris is able to explore her potent past and visit the magical possibilities of her future. Serritella’s elegant prose includes a top note of originality, a middle note of pure heart, and a base note of self-discovery. A sensory feast for readers everywhere.”—Adriana Trigiani, New York Times bestselling author of The View from Lake Como

“Beautifully written . . . This engaging story is part mystery, part romance, and infused with a hint of magic; an excellent choice for book groups.”—Library Journal

“A delightful premise evolves into a sexy romp, then deepens further into an exploration of trauma, power, and responsibility. . . . Serritella balances whimsy alongside a melancholic sense of grief. Iris’ longing is so intensely rendered that it verges on painful. Readers are gifted with a heartfelt story of ambition and resilience. This novel would make an excellent pick for book groups; in addition to its heady themes, it’s sure to spark curiosity about (and within) the world of perfume.”—Booklist

Author

© Nina Subin
Francesca Serritella is the New York Times bestselling author of Ghosts of Harvard, nominated for Best First Novel by International Thriller Writers, and a nine-book series of essay collections co-written with her mother, bestselling author Lisa Scottoline, and based on their Sunday column in The Philadelphia Inquirer. She graduated cum laude from Harvard University, where she won multiple awards for her fiction, including the Thomas T. Hoopes Prize. View titles by Francesca Serritella

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