Reviews with content warning for Infidelity - The Perfumist of Paris

How can partners successfully change the boundaries of a marriage? Or children change the boundaries with their parents? Or friends adjust their friends adjust their friendships? How do adults overstep bitterness and forgive themselves and others for the sublimation of their dreams? Can adults balance being accountable to themselves and still be responsible for others?

This works as a stand-alone novel. Joshi fills in the backstory but not in a tedious way (Well, maybe it is for those who have read the others.)

The science of perfume making was interesting to me, but I like to get behind-the-scenes knowledge of things I had never thought about.

READING PROGRESS

Finished Reading Add a date

June 27, 2023 – Shelved

okiecozyreader's review against another edition

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lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

This is the 3rd book in the Henna Artist series, the Jaipur Trilogy. I liked this one almost as much as the first. It is the story of Lakshmi’s younger sister, Radha. In the first book, she became pregnant young and was sent off to Paris. Her baby was given to one of Lakshmi’s friends to raise.

In this book, she has been living in Paris and is a mother of two daughters. She works as a Perfumist, helping to create scents. She is put in charge of developing one for a piece of art, Olympia, 1863 by Edouard Manet. While working on this scent, some of her things mysteriously change. She also is given some freedom to develop the scent, and she goes on a journey which also helps her find herself.

I liked how the story of the perfume merged with her past in several ways. Alka Joshi definitely has a beautiful way of telling a story.

“The measure of us isn’t in the day-to-day. And it’s not in our past or our future. It’s in the fundamental changes we make within ourselves over a lifetime.“ part 2, 52%

“We can’t go back and change anything, beti. But think of what the past has taught you. What it’s taught me is that keeping secrets has a cost.“ part 3, 63%

“I mix my Olympia formula again. I sniff the blotter. It’s her. The goddess of the divan herself. Proud. Wounded. But not defeated. … I realize Olympia is also me, isn’t she? I’ve given my best, but I’ve been used.“ part 3, 75%

“This is a woman betrayed. She doesn’t want revenge. She wants merely for her pain to be witnessed, noted.“ part 3, 78%

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kimveach's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book is an excellent end to The Henna Artist trilogy. I loved reading about Radha's life in Paris and her work as a perfumist. The author expertly wove in elements from the previous books. This book had plot, emotion, and information (on the perfume industry.) It's what I always hope to get from a novel.

The only thing I didn't like in this book (or the previous two) was the liberal use of Hindi and French words without explaining what they meant. There is a glossary in the back of the book, which is cumbersome. And not all words/phrases were there! Many of the words were not able to be deduced in context. It hurt the book's flow to flip back to the glossary page by page. This book series is not the only one where this happens. Editors should realize that this is not fair to readers. This may work better on a Kindle, though I don't know if the Kindle translate works for Hindi.

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citruslimon's review

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hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

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dev921's review

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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noble_editorial's review

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This is the perfect conclusion to an incredible trilogy. I adore these stories, and Joshi has brought just as much energy to the third book as the first. We meet engaging new characters and get to visit with familiar and beloved ones. The rich settings depict Paris and India in a beautiful yet realistic light, and the prose caters to the senses in such an engaging way that I felt I could actually smell this story. The themes of evolving relationships, personal growth, and feminine power are continued in this final installment, although sometimes the messages within the narrative feel a little too pointed, where subtlety would have been better suited. Overall, this is a strong and satisfying conclusion to an outstanding family saga.

Are these books deep and literary? No. But the Jaipur Trilogy is classic women's fiction that is an absolute joy to read. These books are like a cozy hug after a bad day, and I will always love them for that.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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thesapphiccelticbookworm's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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