Voice of Youth Advocates

The Secret of a Heart Note is a quirky romantic story about a girl who is one of only two aromateurs left in the world: Mim and her "love witch" mother. They possess a power that enables them to smell the aromas that blend together to show the personality and "heart note" of someone around them. A type of profile, like a fingerprint, can be detected by the sensitively nosed aromateur. This power can be used to bring people together in a love match. The catch for Mim is that if she falls in love, her power will be lost. When Mim accidentally administers a potion to the wrong target, she strives to make things right. While she tries to correct things, she also tries to fight her attraction to Court, the son of Mim's wrong target.This contemporary fantasy takes on all the best attributes of a fairy tale, one set in modern California culture and populated with many diverse characters who are refreshing and well drawn.áReaders will cheer on the teacher and librarian who find love and applaud young Mim for her efforts and her struggles.áUltimately, in this story, love really does conquer all. Give this to readers who enjoy coming-of-age stories featuring romance and magic.Jane Murphy.

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Mimosa has inherited an ultra-sensitive nose. Besides being able to smell people-s moods, she and her mother are skilled at mixing scents to create personalized aphrodisiacs for lovelorn clients. Growing weary of her cloistered life as one of the last aromateurs on Earth, Mimosa enrolls in public school but discovers that her private life and the high school social scene don-t blend as smoothly as the ingredients in her potions. The trouble begins when Mimosa-s algebra teacher requests an elixir that falls into the hands of the mother of popular soccer player Court Sawyer, who is, in turn, on his way to winning Mimosa-s heart. In this tantalizing book of contrasts-science and magic, ancient tradition and contemporary life, and seclusion and exploration, among them-Lee (Outrun the Moon) introduces a cast of memorable characters while tracing the external and internal conflicts of an engaging heroine. The book, a playful departure from Lee-s historical fiction, opens the door to many possible outcomes, and readers will be on the edge of their seats to find out how Mimosa-s snowballing dilemmas are resolved. Ages 13-up. Agent: Kristin Nelson, Nelson Literary. (Dec.)

ALA Booklist (Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)

Lee's first contemporary romance hits all the right notes. Sixteen-year-old Mimosa and her mother are the last in a long line of aromateurs, a profession that relies on having an extraordinary sense of smell in order to create elixirs that help others fall in love. While love is their family business, Mim and her mother have been jinxed to never fall in love themselves. If they do, they'll lose their great talent. When Mim accidentally gives an elixir to the wrong person, the mother of her forbidden crush, she finds herself drowning in a mess of feelings. Lee takes a typical first-crush, coming-of-age tale and adds a touch of magic to it. In spite of its lighthearted premise, the story gains some depth with a bullying subplot, wherein Mim's best friend is blackmailed about her sexuality by the school mean girl. Mim navigates a twisty path of emotions, and her journey rings true as she uncovers the truth about her family and falling in love. A solid choice for libraries looking to add contemporary romance.