Asha “Poppy” Patel has always had a “super nose” that she’s been proud of. Working with a Paris perfumer, she’s risen the ranks quickly. That is, until COVID-19 hits her and she loses her ability to smell. Without her gift, she finds her career in jeopardy. Her boss puts her on a one-month leave, sending Poppy into a tailspin as she tries to figure out just what to do. Returning hope to Napa Valley to be with her family, she also returns to the dysfunctional interactions she’s left behind for the past several years in Paris. Her father, a proud hotelier, has continued his family’s tradition of hotel work and despite major downturns in business due to quarantine has managed to keep the hotel alive thanks to his wife. Her mother, a reluctant partner in the hotel has always tried to keep Poppy out of hotel business and involved with the world of perfuming. Her grandmothers uncover Poppy’s secret and quickly start work to get Poppy’s surreal sense of smell back. Then there’s her best friends, including the love of her life she left behind. Poppy has to unravel her family drama, figure out what she truly wants, and see what can be done to patch up past friendships and relationships.
The Scent of a Garden is a delightful book from start to finish. Even if you aren’t of South Asian descent, the family drama and overreaching in this book are extremely relatable. I found myself cracking up at the frequent mentions of the family group chat and her grandmothers embracing of GIFs and memes. For those who didn’t grow up with South Asian influence, writer Namrata Patel does a fantastic job of detailing foods, nicknames, and customs, while making them flow with the text itself. Her writing makes these explanations seamless, meaning you learn without feeling overwhelmed.
The Scent of a Garden is now available from Lake Union Publishing.
