The Library of Flowers by L.C. Chu ~ a Review

by MK French

The Hua women create magical perfumes, and every fifth generation, an eldest daughter can summon true love. Lucy is a fifth-generation daughter, but when her magic failed, she fled Vancouver. Years later, she runs a tiny perfume shop tucked away in Toronto's Kensington Market, keeping her past behind her. A death in the family brings her home again, and she inherits the centuries-old Hua family register, brimming with secrets, formulas, and forgotten truths. As she begins working her way through stories about past generations, she begins to wonder if her magic was truly gone, or simply waiting for her to decide for herself what it means to be a daughter of the House of Hua.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

May 2026; Sourcebooks Landmark; 978-1464265556
audio, ebook, print (416 pages); women's fiction

Lucy has a complicated relationship with her mother and her heritage. As a Hua daughter, she was trained since early childhood in perfumery, with the expectation of taking over the business. When she doesn't seem to have the magic, she takes off and never really stops moving. At the start of the book, her grandmother died and left her the family register, which has the stories of past generations, their gifts, and the major events they lived through or affected. She thinks she might have developed her magical gift after all, but there are fractures within her family, resentments they all carried over the years, and her first instinct is still to run and keep on running. 

The overall story is fascinating and drew me in from the start. We have a few chapters from the POV of her ancestors as well,  so a lot of the problems Lucy has or has read about are more fleshed out for us. She always felt that being loved and accepted were contingent on having her magic talent, discounting her actual talents, and that having friendship and family depended on communication. Her ancestors couldn't talk about their abilities for fear of being exploited or manipulated. She isn't in the same position, but reacts as if she is. Facing fear and difficult emotions is frightening, but often worth the risk. It's the only way to truly get your heart's desire. 

Buy The Library of Flowers at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

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