The Essence of Perfection

In this multilayered contemporary romance narrated by Kecia Lewis, renowned perfumer Nicola King learns that perfectionism is not the path to success and happiness. Everything seems to go wrong after Nicola and her family's business are tapped to develop a signature scent for a superstar R&B singer. Her BFF pulls away, her private life is made public, and she finds herself struggling with the new perfume. Lewis varies her volume and tone to convey the perfumer's initial frustrations at work and insecurities in love. Later her performance highlights Nicola's growing hope for success in both realms. While Lewis's choppy delivery can be distracting, her clear characterizations make the dialogue easy to follow as Nicola journeys to self-discovery and a brighter future. C.B.L. � AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine