Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl is a captivating tale of female friendship and the unwavering determination of a cosmetics icon who knew that she and the women around her were destined for greatness. The story follows the life of Estée Lauder, a woman who was a force to be reckoned with and whose ambition and drive are palpable throughout the pages of this utterly stylish and satisfying book.

Through Rosen's intimate and fascinating portrayal, readers are given a glimpse into the life of a woman whose unwavering determination to fulfill her dream literally changed the face of American women. The immediacy of the writing is captivating, drawing readers in and holding their attention far beyond the final page.

Estée Lauder is just beginning her career. She has set up a shop inside a beauty parlor when she has a chance encounter with Gloria. This strikes up a life long friendship with dreams, successes, disappointments, fights and ambitions.

This story is told in the voice of Gloria. And she has a past she is escaping. She has changed her name but she has issues letting it all go. But with the support of Estée, Gloria comes into her own and finally leaves her past behind.

I loved Gloria and Estée. They had some epic fights. And both are stubborn and smart. This gets them through some major trials and tribulations.

Now, I did fluctuate between 4 and 5 stars on this book basically because this book is a bit monotonous in places. But, after letting it simmer in my brain for a while, I decided on 5 stars. I just love Estée and her tenacity. I knew a little about her but not enough. And I am an Estée Lauder girl. I truly want to know more!

Need a unique tale about the start of an empire…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

You wouldn’t know it by looking at me (or my medicine cabinet) that early on in my working career I worked in the cosmetics industry for five whole years. I wear almost no makeup, and I hardly use any creams or lotions (except for the treatment of medical conditions, or to keep from getting sunburnt). Furthermore, later in my career I had some not-so-pleasant run-ins with the foundation that came from this particular family’s fortune. So why, you might wonder, was I interested in reading about the world-famous Estée Lauder? Well, it might be because she was Jewish (despite her denying it much of her early life), and it might be because I love a rags-to-riches story. Obviously, both of those are true, along with the fact that I already knew that Rosen knows how to tell a good story. Plus, I love a good historical, women’s, biographical fiction novel. Well, this one certainly ticked all those boxes for me, and here’s why.

First of all, I appreciated how Rosen decided to approach this story by using the fictional Gloria as her main observer of Estée’s early life, and the struggles Estée went through to get her business started. Using Gloria is also a way to keep from having an unreliable narrator, especially if you know that Estée wasn’t the most forthright person regarding her own origin story. In this way, Rosen takes a woman who herself has much to hide from the world, and places her alongside Estée so we can see both parallel and contrasting elements in their lives and careers. It also gives us more of a chance to be sympathetic of Estée, since Gloria can point out her faults, and paint her as an ambitious, yet flawed person. Gloria serves as a type of mirror for Estée, one in which she sees not just Estée, but her own reflection with her.

Into this mix, we also get a couple of cameo appearances from author Lee Israel, who wrote an unauthorized biography of Estée Lauder in the 1980s. Rosen uses an interview between Israel and Gloria to start the book off, and then backtracks to the beginning of the early days of Estée’s career, and introducing her to Gloria. Now, many people have come to dislike the mechanic of dual timelines, but this is one that works better than most. In fact, I’d say it was one of the best uses of a secondary timeline I’ve ever read. You see, Rosen fictionalizes that the interview with Lee Israel was the inspiration for Gloria to push Estée into writing her own memoir, and to get it published before Lee Israel’s book. The fact is that Estée’s autobiography was released just under a month before Lee Israel’s book came out. (Which makes you wonder if this bad timing wasn’t part of what led to Lee Israel’s downfall, which ended up landing her in jail for forgery and fraud.)

All this lets Rosen mix some fiction into a whole lot of facts, to develop not one, but two very human women, that form a strong enough friendship that could weather both the driving ambitions and shameful secrets they both had. Rosen also blends just the right amount of romance into all this, the twist of which was very satisfying. Finally, including the two books about Estée’s life also helped Rosen lead up to an ending that not only closes the tale perfectly, but which also made me cry! Yes, I cried at the last lines of this book. That’s why I’m wholeheartedly recommending this novel, even to those who have no interest in the beauty industry, with full marks of 5/5 stars!

If you are a historical fiction fan, then I would definitely say this book is for you. As someone who reads a few HF titles a year, this one missed the mark a little for me. I found it slow in building the story and I know she loved a very sheltered life, but I found Gloria very immature throughout,

FIFTH AVENUE GLAMOUR GIRL is the perfect escape read as we the reader are swept into New York
in the late 1930's/40's and the early days of the cosmetic craze, when Sax Fifth Avenue was king and Helena Rubinstein and Elizabeth Arden were the darlings of the industry. Rosen does a wonderful job of showcasing the rise of Estée Lauder and how, through perseverance and hard work, she was able to carve out a name for herself and turned herself into the innovative icon we know today. As one of my most anticipated books of this spring, I was very impressed with the research that went into this story and richly crafted characters that you can't help but root for. Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl is a celebration of friendship and resilience and a story that you won't want to put down!

In 1938 New York City, one woman selling face cream out of beauty shops is determined to make a name for herself. That woman is Estee Lauder. When she meets Gloria Downing, a down and out socialite, they form a fast friendship that carries them through the years.

I adore historical fiction, and a story around such a prominent and intriguing woman who made her way in a man's world seemed like the perfect fit for me. Unfortunately, it didn't quite work out the way I'd hoped.

Through alternating chapters, we learn about Gloria and Estee and their growing - if frustrating - friendship. They were so on-again, off-again with each other it was a little disconcerting to me as a reader. And I never really felt a lot of emotional connection or empathy for either. I really wanted more Estee and her motivations than Gloria, but it really does seem to be more Gloria's story.

I did love the descriptions of NYC in the late 30s to mid 40s. The stores like Saks Fifth Avenue came alive in my mind. Even today, some of the trends you see at make up and perfume counters across most any department store had its beginnings back in the day.

If you are into make up and fragrances, this one may be for you. It was a decent read, but just not a favorite for me.

In 1938, a young, former socialite seeks to reinvent herself when her father is arrested for cheating his clients in a Ponzi scheme. The renamed Gloria Downing meets Estée Lauder, who is peddling her new skincare line in a small beauty parlor in New York City. The two women become friends and Gloria helps the ambitious Estée in her unwavering journey to establish herself as a new force in cosmetics. Gloria also works to get her career in gear while hiding her true identity. While centered around the early days of Lauder's career, a dual timeline story shifts to 1984, when Gloria is approached by a writer working on an unauthorized biography of the legendary Estée Lauder. The author has uncovered some interesting skeletons in Lauder's closet which Gloria is all too knowledgeable about.

Author Renée Rosen's Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl is a very entertaining book which, like her last two books which I thought were wonderful, combines the real-life stories of accomplished women, pairing them with fictional characters. Rosen's novels provide an effective way of getting to know the historical figure through a well-developed, likeable fictional heroine. This story is set in a period where women were starting to compete alongside men. The cosmetics industry saw women achieve early success with the likes of Helena Rubinstein and Elizabeth Arden, who both appear in this book. Lauder's rise to fame, fueled by perseverance, creativity and passion, is a compelling one and her early days, along with Gloria's fictional story, provided an enjoyable read. A New York City setting is always a draw for me and added to the appeal.

The gorgeous cover drew me in and once again the author didn't disappoint.

Rated 4.25 stars.

Review: This was a really neat and interesting historical fiction novel! This fictionalized story of Estée Lauder was fascinating, and I thought Gloria was a good character to follow. And I love the cover of the book! Overall, I would definitely recommend to anyone who thinks it sounds good!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

What's it about (in a nutshell):
Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl by Renee Rosen is a fictional story about Estée Lauder as told by a friend, Gloria, whose father was sent to prison and her family disgraced. The story follows the two starting when they met in 1938 and ending in 1984 when a tell-all book about Estée Lauder is set to come out. Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl is about two unlikely friends, their rise to success in their perspective fields, and the often-tumultuous path getting there.

Bullet Point Review:
• This is a character-driven story, and I loved the flawed, morally grey main characters – Gloria Downing and Estée Lauder.
• The pace is consistently brisk from start to finish due mainly to the story staying tightly focused on both characters finding their way to success in love and life.
• I loved the empowerment angle of the story as two women learn how to find success in a male-dominated world.
• I was intrigued by the perception versus reality theme throughout the story.
• The characters drive the story and are exquisitely developed with all the shades of grey.
• Gloria tells the story in first-person narration, and I immensely enjoyed that personal touch. It made the story feel that much more authentic.
• The story is set primarily in New York City during the final few years of the Great Depression and the start of WWII.

Read, if you like
• Historical fiction about women in business
• Intoxicating and inspiring fictional stories about real people in history
• Women empowerment stories

A very readable historical fiction look at the life of Estee Lauder - set mostly in the 1930's and 1940's - through the lens of a friend. I learned a lot about the skin care industry which ended up being pretty interesting. Although the hook of Estee Lauder was fascinating, overall this was a friendship story, through its ups and downs.

An entertaining and glamorous reimagining of the story of Estee Lauder! This was a fun read and I loved the characters. I love Renee Rosen's writing and I really enjoyed the subject of the beauty industry. I didn't know a lot about Estee Lauder before reading and I found the story really interesting.

Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl, a historical fiction novel, tells the story of Estee Lauder as seen through the eyes of her friend Gloria. These women meet at a pivotal moment in their lives; one trying to build a beauty empire and the other rebuilding her life.

A writer seeks out Gloria in the 1980's to spill dirt on the infamous cosmetic icon. The reader then steps back in time to when Estee was hocking her cold creams in beauty parlors. It's only through her sheer determination that she becomes the sought after cosmetic giant for Saks Fifth Avenue. Gloria befriends Estee after her world is uprooted by her father's criminal activity. She loses not only her wealth, but her fiancee and her name. Together these women build their careers while supporting each other over the years. .

Fashion and cosmetics collide in this fictional story. This is must read for fans of this type of women's fiction. You'll never step up to a beauty counter in the same way after this read.

Thank you Berkley Publishing for the complimentary copy.

I love Renée Rosen's historical fiction and Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl is all about Estée Lauder and her determination to be successful.

Told through the viewpoint of a fictional friend, we meet Estée as she's trying to sell her beauty products at salons and make connections to hit it big. Her goal was always to get her products at Saks Fifth Avenue.

I love historical fiction with fake characters so we can get more of a story then you can with real people. I thought this was a great angle to show the early rise of Estée. I would have loved to see a little more of her rise to fame and less of the second storyline, I don't think the book needed the 1980s plot. I liked Gloria but I wanted more Estée!

I did enjoy this book, I liked learning about the was early days of Estée Lauder and about her personally. I find so many of these women fascinating!

The author's note was great and it was fun to see where she got the inspiration to write this.

I always love Renée Rosen's historical fiction gems and Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl truly sparkles. I learned a lot about Estee Lauder and the story was really empowering and inspiring.

I like how the story was told through the eyes of a fictional character, similar to how Park Avenue Summer was written. Gloria had a really interesting and difficult situation to deal with and Renee did a great job weaving her story into Estee's, and vice versa. Estee seemed like a toxic friend to Gloria for the most part. I have to wonder if any of her actual friendships were like that though. I know Renee used a lot of background information but also took her own liberties to make everything fit together. I liked the entrepreneurship aspect a lot. I feel like we take so much for granted in the digital age, while advertising was much more of a challenge back in the 1940s. Still, slander easily happened even without social media, given what happened in Gloria's life.

Renee brings 1940's New York City to life throughout the novel, making everything really easy to visualize. While there was a part about the war, it didn't take over the story but she still made it clear how stressful and scary everything was at that time.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel and am excited for everyone to read it soon! It publishes on April 25th, so don't hesitate to add it to your TBR!

Movie casting suggestions:
Gloria: Anya Taylor-Joy
Estee: Sarah Gadon
Joe: Noah Reid
Edward: Dacre Montgomery
Waller: Colton Ryan
Soda Pop: Igby Rigney
Bobbi: Madeleine Arthur

OMG, that cover!! 😍 Renee Rosen is one of my favorite authors, and Fifth Aveune Glamour Girl is one of my most anticipated reads of the year. The research she puts into each book is obvious and this is no exception.

At it’s heart, Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl is a story of female friendship and determination. Beginning in 1938 and told in three parts, the reader experiences the story of Estée Lauder, future cosmetic queen, through the eyes of a fictional character, Gloria Downing. Gloria becomes Estée’s closest friend and a key figure in helping her get her products in Saks Fifth Avenue.

My take: I wish that the story had focused more on Estée. Instead, it’s more about Gloria and her personal struggles with Estée as a backdrop. I would have preferred a first person narration by Estée but I do understand what the author was trying to accomplish by telling the story through Gloria. Unfortunately, it just didn’t give me enough Estée Lauder.

Pub date: 4/25/23
Genre: historical fiction, books about friendship
Quick summary: Gloria Downing and Estée Lauder become fast friends in 1938 New York City - can their friendship survive Gloria's secrets and Estée's ambition to become a cosmetics mogul?

This book has a little something for everyone - the glitz and glamour of old New York and Saks Fifth Avenue, female friendship, romance, a rags to riches story, and plenty of secrets. I enjoyed that we saw Gloria and Estée's friendship and careers develop and change over time - and how the men of their time underestimated them. I liked that this was a lighter, more glamorous historical fiction than the typical WWII historical fiction. I think Rosen's choice to tell the story primarily through Gloria was an excellent one - it made me feel like I was right there with the two of them, and Gloria was an excellent foil to the intensely driven Estée.

If you enjoy historical fiction about real people and books about female friendship, this is a winner!

Thank you to Berkley and the Thoughts From a Page podcast for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved living in the world of vintage New York City alongside young Gloria and Estee Lauder. What a treat this book was to read!

Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl by Renée Rosen

In New York City, you can disappear into the crowd. At least that’s what Gloria Downing desperately hopes as she tries to reinvent herself after a devastating family scandal. She’s ready for a total life makeover and a friend she can lean on—and into her path walks a young, idealistic woman named Estée. Their chance encounter will change Gloria’s life forever.

Estée dreams of success and becoming a household name like Elizabeth Arden, Helena Rubinstein, and Revlon. Before Gloria knows it, she is swept up in her new friend’s mission and while Estée rolls up her sleeves, Gloria begins to discover her own talents. After landing a job at Saks Fifth Avenue, New York’s finest luxury department store, Gloria finds her voice, which proves instrumental in opening doors for Estée’s insatiable ambitions.

Out on April 25.

Gloria Downings father has been arrested, he’s been accused of committing investment fraud, and the family loses everything and Gloria's friends no longer speak to her. Gloria wants to become invisible, she changes her name and appearance and for the first time in her life, she has to find a job and be independent.

Estée Lauder is married to Joe and they have a young son Leonard. Estée makes beauty products in her kitchen, she’s currently selling them at a beauty parlor and her dream is to see them displayed on the shelves of an up market department store.

Estée and Gloria meet in 1938, the two women become best friends, and yet they don’t share their secrets. Estée is passionate about her products, she carries samples around in her purse, and she gives women skincare and makeup advice. Sometimes Estée oversteps the mark, she goes too far and it doesn’t put her off!

Gloria starts working at Saks Department Store, she’s a natural sales women and with customer service. Estée thinks her products are far better than her big name competitors including; Helena Rubinstein, Elizabeth Arden, Max Factor and Revlon. Estée wants her skincare range sold in Saks Fifth Avenue, she needs to meet with the exclusive board of buyers and deliver her pitch. Estée discovers getting an appointment with them isn’t easy, and she puts pressure on Gloria to help her and Estée doesnt handle constructive criticism well.

Estée and Gloria navigate the world of being working women, at a time when it wasn’t the norm and especially for mothers. Estée is extremely ambitious, this causes problems in all of her relationships, and she pushes herself to breaking point.

I received a digital copy of Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl by Renée Rosen from NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review. A well written story about two women living and working in New York City, and the ups and downs of their friendship and careers. Estée Lauder might have been pushy and at times a down right rude woman, but you have to admire her work ethic, and she was the first in the industry to do revolutionary things and she created a beauty empire.

Estée demonstrated how to use her products in store, gave out free samples and a gift with purchase. Gloria and Joe were my favorite characters, they put up with Estée's demands, she was bossy and a drama queen. An incredible historical fiction novel, I was completely hooked from the first page, one of the best books I have read this year, and five big stars from me.

Book Review 📚
Title: Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl
Author: Renee Rosen
Release Date: Available Now
Rating: 4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Growing up, Estée Lauder was a household name. My late grandmother bought and used her beauty products faithfully. So, I jumped at the chance to read Renee Rosen’s latest book, Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl, which is loosely based on Estée Lauder’s life. The author did a fantastic job of researching Lauder’s life and weaving true parts of her life into an entertaining fiction novel.

Amazon book description: It’s 1938, and a young woman selling face cream out of a New York City beauty parlor is determined to prove she can have it all. Her name is Estée Lauder, and she’s about to take the world by storm.

This was a captivating story told about Estée Lauder and her journey to become a well known and highly successful household name in all things beauty. I enjoyed this story that was filled with drama, betrayal, ambition, friendship and redemption.

I received an electronic advanced reader (eARC) copy from @thoughtsfromapage Patreon Community. Thank you to Cindy Burnett, publisher Berkley and Netgalley. I appreciate the opportunity to preview this book.

I know very little about Estee Lauder, other than my mother loved her perfume, Beautiful, and whenever I smell it, I’m reminded of my childhood. I’ve read other Renée Rosen books, and when Thoughts From a Page had an author event for her new book 5th Avenue Glamour Girl featuring Estée Lauder I was all in.

What a tale this story tells. Told through the lens of Gloria we see the early day of Estee’s work to create and launch her cosmetic company. It was fascinating to see the role of high-end department stores in the 1930s through 1950s and how they were run.

Threaded throughout the story is kept secrets and complex friendships both that come with a cost. This combination made for historical fiction. Read I couldn’t put down. I honestly didn’t really care for Estee, but greatly admired her drive and pure ambition. She truly was a pioneer.