Well this was not what I expected… the lucid parts were interesting and I found myself wanting to know what would happen to Belle. The author expertly created many moments of pure confusion and chaos which I had to admire but did not necessarily enjoy reading.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Rouge.

I love this author's novel ideas; they're sinister, creepy with horror elements and I'm always up for a creepy story.

The thing is I'm not a fan of the author's writing style. I couldn't get through Bunny despite all the rave reviews.

But I still wanted to give the author a try and the premise of Rouge was creepy intriguing.

I think the author's writing style isn't for me.

I love the premise of Rouge, and I liked the horror elements, the mirror, the not so subtle digs at how much our society praises beauty and young and how far people would go to stop the aging process.

There were scenes and descriptions that made me pat my own face, think about my own beauty rituals (am I doing enough or too much?) and how much these rituals are OCD related, that it gives people a sense of control when engaging in these multilayered routines.

The Tom Cruise element was bizarre; at first I didn't get it, wondered if the author chose Tom Cruise because he's the biggest celebrity ever and the most known to most people, but these vignettes were too bizarre to be relatable or understandable.

I think it would have worked better if this figure was Belle's father or someone from her past. I wondered if Belle and Noelle had a shared mental illness.

Maybe I'm not smart enough to understand the story.

The premise had real potential and I enjoyed the creepy undertones but I'm not a fan of the author's writing style.

This was a very dreamy, surreal book that went on for a little too long for my taste. I wish the horror elements at play were cranked up a little more, but it mostly read as a mystery. I loved the Tom Cruise character. For a more compelling take on the horrors of the beauty industry, I’d recommend “Natural Beauty” by Ling Ling Huang.

I think I would have enjoyed this a lot more had I not just read Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison. They are both suuuuper similar to one another. But as a Beauty and the Beast retelling, I think this was a good one, tho I have not read many adult retellings so it might just be the novelty. Overall it was an interesting reading experience, it held my interest despite the fact that I had the gist of how the story would wind up, which normally would be a big turn off for me, but in this case I was invested but there was enough unknown to keep me at the tip of my seat.

3.5. A fun niche read that would appeal to a certain audience: goth girls, disney adults, fairy tell lovers!

As usual, Awad is a master genre-mixer. Magical realism, horror, supernatural, contemporary; you name it, <I>Rouge</I> has it!

The comparisons to <I>Bunny</I> can’t be helped, due to both novels heavily featuring a cult. I was thrilled about this because Awad narrates depersonalization and memory loss like no other. Awad gets readers lost along with the narrator, and the prose takes on a foamy quality that quickly slips away. Both novels had me equally entranced, but I am also happy to report that is where the similarities in these novels end. <I>Rouge</I> stands completely on its own two feet.

Our protagonist Belle returns home for her mother’s funeral, an event that quickly forces her demons to surface. Throughout the novel, she stands off with deeply ingrained euro-centric beauty standards, repressed memories, and, of course, Tom Cruise. (Sort of.) I deeply enjoyed the plot from start to finish, loving how I never knew what was coming next.

As wonderful as the plot of <I>Rouge</I> is, it is the thematic use of grief that shone brightest for me. The death and mourning of the mother-daughter relationship leads us to a stunning and utterly human conclusion that has continued to stick with me since finishing. This is a novel that’s worth re-reading, again and again.

Thank you to netgalley and the Simon Element for my arc in exchange for an honest review!

Rouge by Mona Awad unfolds with the death of Belle's estranged mother, Noelle, plunging Belle into a world of debts and unanswered questions. The mysterious appearance of a woman in red at the funeral sets the stage for a chilling exploration of La Maison de Méduse, a luxurious and cult-like spa that reveals the unsettling secrets behind Belle and Noelle's fixation on the mirror.

The author navigates the complexities of the beauty industry with black humor and seductive horror, delving into the dangers of internalizing societal standards of beauty. The exploration of the mirror as a metaphor for mortality and our collective obsession with appearances is both thought-provoking and chilling.

The narrative is beautifully enriched with vivid descriptions of California sunshine and blood-red rose petals, creating a visual and emotional tapestry that immerses the reader in the story's depths. The pacing is well-crafted, maintaining a sense of tension and curiosity throughout.

One aspect that particularly impressed me was the exploration of the mother-daughter relationship. The nuanced portrayal of their connection adds emotional depth to the story, making it more than just a supernatural thriller. The characters, especially Belle, are compelling, and the author skillfully navigates their psychological journeys.

In conclusion, "Rouge" is a masterfully woven tale that offers a warped mirror to societal norms and personal relationships. It successfully combines elements of fairy tales and psychological horror, creating a narrative that lingers in the mind long after the final page. I believe this novel has the potential to captivate readers who appreciate stories that challenge conventional perceptions and delve into the complexities of human experience.

This was deeply unsettling, in the best way? Mona turns the tables on society with this beauty and the beast retelling in which the beauty industry is targeted ruthlessly. Here’s the thing- i’m not certain i absolutely loved this one. Sure, it was gothic and weird and everything I’ve come to expect, but I don’t think it fully delivered. Halfway through, things felt a bit off and while i still enjoyed it, i can’t say it’ll stick with me furthermore.

I loved Rouge. I previously loved Bunny and 13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl, and I saw remnants of those themes in Rouge, but I feel like they were more fully developed. I described Bunny as a fever dream, and Rouge was somehow even more of a fever dream than Bunny was. There were a lot of unfortunate parts I could personally relate to as far as childhood memories and insecurities, so that's always a treat when I'm reading a book and feel like someone out there gets it, but I also liked that at no point did I have any idea where the book was headed. I love the writing style, I love the characters, and I especially loved the mother/daughter dynamic. The flashback scenes were some of the strongest for me. I love the Tom Cruise references, the skincare products, and the times when I literally laughed out loud, which is not easy to make me do in book format. I found the end to be satisfying and I can see myself reading this again and again to unravel the layers, as well as pick up any other novel this author puts out. I've seen others review this book on social media and complain they didn't feel the themes were fully developed, but I just can't agree with that. I do think it helped that I was able to discuss the book as I read it with other readers, but with how much I personally related to certain aspects of the story, I can't imagine how the themes could be any more developed? Five stars from me.

While the writing was okay the story was very repetitive and a bit tedious. I kept waiting for some clarification in the story. I think the topic of superficiality also held very little interest for me.

What a weird little horror book. I think students will love this as it resonates with how beauty standards affect their lives. Mona Awad has a knack for taking the most relatable of things and twisting them into a horrific perspective.

Not engaged ....I got over half way but DNF. Weird with no reward - characters were too illogical and the plot (if there was one) was obscure. I did like the setting and its intensity. I wanted to like this one because I liked All's Well so very much. I don't mind magical realism; but there needs to be a thread of credibility there to the narrative.

this was an absolute fever dream and i loved every min of it. thanks netgalley & the publisher for the arc!

mona awad has yet to blow me away. i have a complicated relationship with magical realism, i want to love it, and claim that i do, but often the messages within magical realism are lost on me amidst all the absurdity. awad has the incredible ability of writing books that feel like the ultimate fever dream without losing me. not once did i fall too far down the rabbit hole and missed the underlying themes. she is so incredibly purposeful with every little detail.

Rouge showcased a complex mother/daughter relationship and how each generation of women passes their relationship with beauty onto the next. it commented on how scary and obsessive the culture around beauty can be, how at times it can even mirror cultish speak or behavior. i’m not always one for subtle horror, but this was subtle horror at its finest. especially as a woman who has felt the impacts of beauty standards and the pressure to “reach your most Magnificent Self,” as those in Rouge might say.

i definitely think this book will be one that grows on me the more i sit with it (although it doesn’t have to do too much growing) and i think fans of Bunny will especially love this one

This book is so so weird and so so delightful, which is exactly why I read Mona Awad books. This is probably my least favorite so far BUT I still loved it and will continue to read anything she writes.

God Damn Mona Awad you always suck me in.

This is the very definition of a Fever Dream and i loved it.

As we follow Mirabelle following the loss of her mother, she gets sucked into what i can only describe as a Beauty-Cult. Everyone is bright and youthful and and adorned in varying deep reds. Mirabelle is drawn to this cult because her mother too was a member, and she is trying to feel close to her again and to understand her. We also get glimpses into Mirabelles childhood and her relationship with her mother, and the beauty standards and beauty industry culture throughout which made for a compelling read.

I am not even sure I know how to properly review this other than to say - this is for the girls who loved Alls Well (aka me). Its so weird, unsettling, and somehow funny??

Thank you NetGalley, Mona Awad, and S&S/Marysue Rucci Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! I picked this one up because Bunny was such a feverdream and I liked the description, but I sadly couldn’t really get into it. However, if you liked Bunny or are a fan of this genre, be sure to pick this one up.

4/5

okay like…… what a strange book!

i started it super fast, crashed around 60% through, and just sped through the rest with two days left before it returns. and i don’t even know what to say about it. mona’s books always leave me like this tho!

i actually did love all the descriptions of the terrifying house & its visitors, particularly the ending bits. i understand why we needed all the flashbacks, but those were also the most off putting parts of the book to me. the tom cruise obsession was … funny, but so very strange & difficult to read for me. i do have a problem with second-hand embarrassment, though.

thanks to simon & schuster and netgalley for thé advanced copy of this book! i’m really glad to have read it, because i do love all of mona’s creepy, disturbing, confusing books.

This one didnt do it for me unfortunately. After reading Bunny I was expecting to be confused a bit while reading this book but Rouge was too confusing. Its not that I didnt "get" the book i just felt the pacing was off and not that scary.

Thank you to Net Galley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I didn't realize this was a retelling of Beauty and the Beast when I requested it. That's not normally my cup of tea. I'm also new to Mona Awad's writing. Though I've heard good things about it, this one didn't really draw me in. I'm not against giving her other titles a try, but this one didn't work for me.

Mona Awad has such a talent in writing. This book dives into the complexities of mother/daughter relationships, the beauty industry, grief & trauma, and Tom Cruise??? I found this to be a bit too similar to All’s Well in the structure of the story but still enjoyed it nonetheless. This book just felt so feverish but in a good way.