The Scent Keeper #ourgoodlifebooklist

This is my first book by author Erica Bauermeister but I don't think it will be my last! If you like books that practically sing to you, you will love The Scent Keeper.  I have experienced the draw of a scent back to its memory, so I was captivated from the very beginning.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

From Amazon:

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.

I was pretty young when my first scents became memories.  When my brother was born, I was able to help my mother with his care often which included diapers and baby powder. When he died unexpectedly, I used to dust a bit of baby powder on me to recreate his smell.  To this day, I can remember his giggly self full of pumping feet when I smell that soft baby powder smell.  

The prologue starts us with... We are the unwitting carriers of our parents' secrets, the ripples made by stones we never saw thrown... and ends with... Let me tell you a story. Let me tell you everything.

The author has a writing style that evokes emotion on all levels. There were times when I was moved to tears and others when I couldn't catch my breath. I would be thrilled and devastated.  To some the book may move slowly at the beginning, but take note of the descriptions and slow down and enjoy. As the plot thickens, the pace picks up and you won't want to put it down!  The storyline is original and its uniqueness encourages you to keep reading, even though you know you have to work tomorrow!  

The book comes out in May, thank you NetGalley for sending me an advanced copy.  If you want to read this book, please consider ordering it through this blog!  We make a small commission but the price is the same here or at Amazon.  Thank you!