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The Scent Keeper: A Novel Kindle Edition
鶹
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.
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherSt. Martin's Press
- Publication dateMay 21 2019
- File size4.3 MB
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From the Publisher

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Review
"Told in a lyrical, haunting prose, the story provides fascinating information about the ways in which different fragrances can impact human behavior and the struggles of finding one's own identity. An artfully crafted coming-of-age story that will take the reader on an exquisite olfactory adventure. " - Kirkus
"This coming-of-age story delights the senses, immersing the reader in the sights, sounds, and scents of the
wilderness and city life. Fans of Mary Simses and Jennifer Close will fall in love with Bauermeister's plucky heroine, the layers of family secrets, the lush settings, and the painfully tender relationships." - Booklist
"Woven through [Emmeline's] life's journey is a multi-layered story of fragrance and its evocative power, as strong and tenacious as this sensuous novel's plucky heroine." - Shelf Awareness, Starred Review
“[A] magical novel…Blending fantasy with a realist family drama, Bauermeister’s novel will enchant fans of Katherine Paterson.” - Publishers Weekly
"For lovers of Chocolat, The Scent Keeper evokes emotion and magic through the senses." –Jennie Shortridge, author of Eating Heaven
"A fascinating, totally original and captivating tale about how the love that separates us is also the love that keeps us together."―M.J. Rose, New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Lost Fragrances
"The author hits it out of the park with the most superb sense of place I've read in a long time. It's a coming of age tale, featuring a young heroine as narrator who makes serious mistakes, learns much from them, and ultimately redeems herself. Beautifully and masterfully written. I highly recommend it." - Elizabeth George, New York Times and international bestselling author
"Bauermeister deftly weaves plot and language into a luminous discovery of love―for another person, for a place, and ultimately for oneself." - Carol Cassella, national bestselling author of Oxygen
"Bauermeister's heroine Emmeline might also be kin to Jane Eyre. Heartbreaking, thrilling, and wonderfully instructive, this sensual novel is pure pleasure reading."―Adrianne Harun, bestselling author of A Man Came Out of A Door in the Mountain
"Some very special books have the power to change the reader--The Scent Keeper is one of those. This is a book to be devoured, no, to be inhaled, and held deeply." - Dave Boling, author of Guernica
“One of the most enchanting, unique books I’ve ever read.” - Anna Quinn, author of The Night Child and owner The Writers’ Workshop and Imprint Bookstore
About the Author
Erica Bauermeister is the author of the bestselling novel The School of Essential Ingredients, Joy for Beginners, and The Lost Art of Mixing. She is also the co-author of non-fiction works, 500 Great Books by Women: A Reader’s Guide and Let’s Hear It For the Girls: 375 Great Books for Readers 2-14.
She has a PhD in literature from the University of Washington, and has taught there and at Antioch University. She is a founding member of the Seattle7Writers and currently lives in Port Townsend, Washington.
Gabra Zackman began recording audiobooks when they were called books on tape, and has recorded more than 500, in all genres.
Product details
- ASIN : B07HM25HKS
- Publisher : St. Martin's Press
- Accessibility : Learn more
- Publication date : May 21 2019
- Language : English
- File size : 4.3 MB
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 316 pages
- ISBN-13 : 978-1250200143
- Page Flip : Enabled
- 鶹 Rank: #897 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #38 in Coming of Age Fiction (Books)
- #70 in Domestic Life in Women's Fiction
- #83 in Family Life
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Erica Bauermeister is the NYT bestselling author of the four novels including The Scent Keeper, The School of Essential Ingredients, Joy for Beginners, and The Lost Art of Mixing. Her newest novel, No Two Persons, will be out in May of 2023. She has also written a memoir, House Lessons: Renovating a Life. Her work has been published in over 25 languages and has been a Reese's Book Club pick (Scent Keeper), a Costco Pennie's Pick (School of Essential Ingredients) and all four of her novels have been Indie Next Picks. Before she began writing fiction and memoir, she earned a PhD in literature and co-authored two guides to books: 500 Great Books by Women and Let's Hear It For the Girls. She lives in Port Townsend, WA and loves to talk with book groups. For more personal insights, you can visit her at www.ericabauermeister.com or at www.facebook.com/EricaBauermeisterAuthor.
Customer reviews
Customers say
Customers find the book enjoyable, entertaining, and a good choice for book club. They appreciate the writing style, saying it captures the imagination and is a beautiful escape into the senses. Readers also describe the scent as complex and scentastic.
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Customers find the book enjoyable and a good choice for book club. They say it keeps them engaged and entertained. Readers also say it completely absorbs them into the story like nothing they've read before.
"Great read. It was a beautiful dive into the senses, emotions & how to read people. I gave it 5 stars but I wasn’t thrilled about the ending...." Read more
"...focus on olfactory sense is something so unique, it completely absorbes you into this story like nothing I've read before...." Read more
"Easy to read book that engages you quickly and an excellent choice for a book club. P" Read more
"I quite enjoyed this book, once I got into it. At first, I was unsure, but it started to make more sense as I read further." Read more
Customers find the writing style well-written, capturing their imagination. They say it's a beautiful escape into the senses, truly tantalizing, and unique. Readers also appreciate the well-developed characters.
"fascinating and beautiful story about love and the complexity of scent." Read more
"Very unique novel!" Read more
"Great read. It was a beautiful dive into the senses, emotions & how to read people. I gave it 5 stars but I wasn’t thrilled about the ending...." Read more
"The characters are well developed and the pacing of the story is good...." Read more
Customers find the scent complex and scentastic.
"fascinating and beautiful story about love and the complexity of scent." Read more
"This book is like a savoury dessert. The focus on olfactory sense is something so unique, it completely absorbes you into this story like nothing I..." Read more
"This book has a way of wanting to be a scent keeper. I learned so much, which is the main reason I love books." Read more
"Scentastic!!..." Read more
Customers find the content of the book truly tantalizing, wonderful, and a beautiful escape into the senses. They say it captures the imagination and has poetic writing. Readers also mention the characters are well-developed and the pacing of the story is good.
"...Overall it was very good and the story was unique." Read more
"...I enjoyed reading all Erica Bauermeister books so far but this one was amazing...." Read more
"excellent & captivating read..." Read more
"Wonderful!!!..." Read more
Top reviews from Canada
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- Reviewed in Canada on June 29, 2022Verified PurchaseGreat read. It was a beautiful dive into the senses, emotions & how to read people. I gave it 5 stars but I wasn’t thrilled about the ending. I prefer when there’s more of a conclusion, but that’s a person preference. Still a beautiful book
- Reviewed in Canada on August 19, 2024Verified PurchaseThe characters are well developed and the pacing of the story is good. Would’ve liked more realistic reactions of Henry and Collette at times as they felt like cardboard characters. Overall it was very good and the story was unique.
- Reviewed in Canada on June 19, 2020Verified PurchaseThis book is like a savoury dessert. The focus on olfactory sense is something so unique, it completely absorbes you into this story like nothing I've read before. I ordered the hardcover after reading the Kindle version so I can read it over and over.
- Reviewed in Canada on October 12, 2022Verified PurchaseErica Bauermeister hits it out of the park again. The subtle scent of a storm on the horizon long before you can see or hear it coming. The pine tree that releases its aroma on a hot day. Or the hint of bread having been baked many days ago. All woven together to draw you into a story that is truly tantalizing. She is one of few authors whose books I could read again and again.
- Reviewed in Canada on October 27, 2022Verified PurchaseEasy to read book that engages you quickly and an excellent choice for a book club. P
- Reviewed in Canada on June 29, 2022Verified PurchaseI’d been debating getting this book for a couple of months now. I wasn’t sure what to expect - if it was going to be more fantasy-based or contemporary fiction. Read it in two sittings, ultimately glad I purchased it and will probably read again and recommend to others. The only thing keeping me from giving it a 5 was the pacing as of half way around the book, but I don’t want to give any spoilers.
- Reviewed in Canada on June 9, 2020Verified PurchaseI quite enjoyed this book, once I got into it. At first, I was unsure, but it started to make more sense as I read further.
- Reviewed in Canada on April 29, 2023Verified Purchasefascinating and beautiful story about love and the complexity of scent.
Top reviews from other countries
- Lis Vaessen-ÖzönderReviewed in the Netherlands on October 2, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing novel
Verified PurchaseRight from the start this book was interesting enough. Then it turned a little into too much of the same and I started wondering what to do, put the book down or not. However I kept on reading and the book got better, especially as of part 2 (there are 3 parts).
For me the book feels like something in between the lush habitat of Where the Crawdads Sing and the mysteries similar to the books by Glendy Vanderah. In one word: interesting and intriguing. Beautifully and well written.
It was the first time I read a book by Erica B. and it will certainly not be the last!
It's one of those books you don't want to end.
- Xié MaymíReviewed in Spain on April 24, 2022
5.0 out of 5 stars This is by far the most unique and original book I've ever read.
Verified PurchaseThe book is divided in 3 parts: The Island, The Cove and The City.
This book would have been a 5 star read for me since I adored the first and second parts but unfortunately, the story lost momentum in the third part (it was so different from the other two and a bit slower-paced).
I loved Emmeline and Fisher as characters and how their relationship was built (seriously what a beautiful love story).
I also liked Henry and Colette and would have loved to read more of them in the third part of the book.
Dylan was an interesting character (though not a nice person) and I've always thought he acted the way he did with Emmeline because he secretly liked her and therefore wanted to get her attention.
The weakest part of the book for me was Emmeline meeting her mother and working with her (or should I say 'for her') at Inspire, Inc (which was the main focus of the third part of the book). I found myself not as interested in that storyline as I would have liked even though it made sense to put it as it made the story progress.
Regarding the epilogue, I would have loved if the author had included the scene where Emmeline and Fisher return to the Cove and reunite with Colette and Henry (it was just mentioned and that was not enough for me since Emmeline’s life at the Cove was pretty much what the entire part two of the book was about and therefore important enough to write how it felt for her to come back).
So all in all, despite a few aspects of the storyline that I wish had gone different, The Scent Keeper is a fantastic book that I highly recommend since it’s a story that I don't think I'll ever forget
- Kindle CustomerReviewed in the United Kingdom on September 3, 2022
5.0 out of 5 stars Thought provoking and unputdownable
Verified PurchaseI read this in one sitting, I needed to understand how Emmeline's life changed. I loved the description and how the story grew, it has made me nostalgic for scents of my childhood.
-
SabrinaReviewed in Germany on April 5, 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars Mal etwas anderes
Verified PurchaseEin Roman, der mal einfach etwas anderes ist. Zwar nicht in bezug auf den Inhalt - denn auch hier gibt es Drama & Liebe - allerdings auf eine andere (für mich 'neue') Art und Weise.
Die Geschichte wird sehr einfühlsam erzählt. Was mir sehr gefallen hat war auch die Nähe zur Natur und wie intensiv diese - vorallem über die Gerüche - wahrgenommen wird.
Es ist eh super interessant mal nicht nur das 'normal' erlebte in das Zentrum einer Geschichte zu stellen... Sondern Gerüche.
- scottReviewed in Australia on March 12, 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars Adds to your world
Verified PurchaseThis book was so vivid in its description that I found myself tuning into scents where ever I was. A beautifully written love story that makes you see, or should I say smell the world in all its beauty.