Official Review: The Scent of Heat by E. P. Sery

[Delaney35]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Scent of Heat" by E. P. Sery.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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The Scent of Heat by E. P. Sery is a glimpse into Israeli life in the 1950s. Ariella is a nineteen-year-old who is almost finished with her mandatory military service. She longs to go to America and make a new life for herself. However, things start to fall apart when her beloved mother is diagnosed with breast cancer. Ariella also meets an older man, Arik. He is charming and almost too perfect. Though he is significantly older than her, Ariella and Arik begin to date in secret. As they become more involved, Ariella begins to see a side of him that wasn't apparent at first.

This book is a combination of romance, historical fiction, and a coming-of-age novel. It is also very focused on the characters. Ariella starts the novel as a young woman. She is naïve and doesn’t make the best choices because she doesn’t know better. Being close in age to her, I found myself relating to her character in many ways. She has dreams that she must learn to balance with the reality of her situation. This is very real for young adults. Becoming an adult member of society isn’t easy, and this book captures that struggle in a visceral way. Watching Ariella grow was my favorite part of this book. Her character was relatable, and she made decisions that made sense given her age.

Sery also gave a good look into life in Israel in the 1950s. The descriptions of the city and the people there were amazing. The imagery used was powerful and made it hard to put the book down.

There is nothing about this book I truly disliked. The plot, characters, and setting all flowed together to create a wonderful read. It also appeared to be professionally edited; I only noticed a few tiny errors throughout the entire book.

This book is deserving of 4 out of 4 stars. Sery crafted a world where the characters felt real. The emotional rollercoaster of Ariella’s mother being diagnosed with breast cancer, Ariella trying to figure out her place in the world and her secret boyfriend all worked together to create a compelling story that kept me engaged from the first page to the very end. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a different sort of romance novel or anyone who wants a realistic coming-of-age novel. I would caution against younger readers because there are mature themes throughout the book. These themes show Ariella growing up and coming to terms with the adult world, so they are an integral part of the novel. However, if some sexual content does not bother you, then this book is an amazing read and worth checking out.

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The Scent of Heat
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[Ngozi Onyibor]

I like the relatable storyline. I'm sure Ariella trying to find her place in the world resonates with every adult who has had to grow up. Your review is brilliant. Thank you.

[Verna Coy]

I think coming-of-age novels play an important role in the library world, as long as they aren't too racy. I'm glad you mentioned that issue. Thanks for an insightful review!

[Prisallen]

I am interested to know what life was like in Israel in the 1950s. The story of Ariella also sounds intriguing. I think this is a book I would enjoy. Thank you for a wonderful review, as always!

[kandscreeley]

I know little enough about the 1950s to begin with much less about Israel during that time. It does sound interesting though with a combination of those genres. Thanks for sharing with us.

[Mbrooks2518]

I'm not a fan of romance novels, so I'll pass on this one. Great review, though!

[LinaMueller]

Great review. The Scent of Heat seems to be a nice book. I’ll put it on my ‘to read’ list.

[Squidnnneyyy99+]

This actually may be aromance novel I read. I am not a fan of romance, but I am a huge fan of historical fiction, and considering it is a coming of age story, excites me.

If you gave this book a 4 because of the actual concept of the book, I can't wait. However, if you voted it a four for romance alone, then I'll pass.