Thank you to NetGalley and S & S for an early copy of this book! I loved Bunny and gave it five stars so I had really high expectations for this book but unfortunately it just wasn’t for me. I think this book will have many people who enjoy its weirdness but for me the plot felt too slow moving, especially in the first half when I really need to be hooked by a story. I also found the sort of stream of consciousness writing style (I can’t think of a better way to describe it) to be hard for me to focus on and stay engaged with. I’m not sure if it was because of this writing style or not, but I had a hard time connecting to Belle as a character and I just couldn’t get into the story. All that being said, I do think this was a really cool and unique concept for a book and I really look forward to reading future books from Mona Awad!

Thank you to NetGalley and S&S for this e-book copy!

Rating: 3.5 stars

This was my first Mona Awad book and I can say that Awad's writing style is very intriguing. I wasn't sure what to expect since many people rave Awad's books for being bizarre but fun reads. This book was definitely bizarre but also a very fast read for me. Rouge follows Belle as she experiences grief due to the mysterious and sudden passing of her mother. She finds out her mother frequented a spa before her death and Belle decides to check it out. Right away, Belle is sucked into the lifestyle this spa offers and she slowly discovers secrets about the spa, her mother, and herself. The first half of this book is very slow but once it picks up it just keeps going with the plot progression. I finished this feeling empathy for Belle as it was obvious the spa was taking advantage of her and her mother. I did feel like the fairytale aspects of this was a bit forced at times and not needed when it came to this story but outside of that I enjoyed it. I recommend checking this out during the spooky season. Also expect to not understand everything that's happening and focus on Belle's journey.

this is my second awad book and i can't wait to read the rest of her backlist. i loved the mix of fairytale and horror in this and was unnerved during most parts. this was definitely an unforgettable read just like bunny.

Whatever just happened to me was executed very well. 4 scars. I mean, stars.

It took me about one-third of the book to be immersed in the tone. Once I was, I truly enjoyed the unsettling, labyrinthine atmosphere and uncertain narrative voice of Rouge.

Rouge features a spa for wellness, but all is not well. It's almost become a trendy topic in literature in the last 5ish years: the beauty and wellness industries and their insidious hooks into people, especially women, and especially women who don't fit the white European beauty standard. I liked Rouge's exploration of this topic and the others it touches on (complicated familial relationships, grief) because Mirabelle's confusion and obsession prevent the book from being ham-fisted in its messaging. There is undoubtedly evil in the quest to meet unrealistic, racist, and capitalism-driven beauty standards, but both in Rouge and in real life, that evil is insidious. It's less of a mustache-twirling charlatan or a Nurse Ratched with a Botox needle and more of a vaguely icky feeling about what is expected of us as we move through the world.

Worse, that icky feeling isn't a straightforward condemnation of our devotion to our beauty regimens. We receive affirmation from looking good, from how people treat us when we capitulate, from looking how we think we deserve to look. I mean, of course Mirabelle spent the book confused and beguiled. We might not have had a red jelly treatment, but we've all been there.

Rouge by Mona Awad; very interesting and timely. I expect creepy atmospheric subtlety from Awad and this didn't disappoint. I've seen a few books lately about the dangers of becoming beauty obsessed, but this one handled it well.

I absolutely loved Rouge with all my heart. The themes Mona Awad incorporated were amazing. There were times I felt for Belle and wanted her to do well and overcome her obstacles. She is seen as a strong woman though she is still unsure about life and navigating life can be difficult when you feel lost. She has always had an odd complex with her mother due to their differences and her discovery of what her mother was up to was shocking. As per usual, Mona Awad ceases to disappoint again and publishes a masterpiece.

Thank you very much for the opportunity to read this book early! I really enjoyed it. I thought the writing was very well done, and the story kept me interested. I believe my students/patrons would also love this book and will be acquiring it for the library!

I adored this book - I will be buying my own physical copy for my shelf. I've previously read Bunny and All's Well by Mona Awad, and this is my favorite book of hers so far. It's mysterious and fanciful, with clear inspiration from classic fairy tales (before they were sanitized by Disney). I love how Mirabelle's voice changed as the plot became more and more twisted, and there is something luxurious about the writing style that I really enjoyed. It's dreamlike and surreal, while remaining poignant in its commentary. This book delves into loss and grief, into beauty and self-worth versus self-obsession, and into the insidious side of the skincare industry that pushes whiteness as the beauty standard.

I will start by saying this review will be unpopular, and it’s my OPINION, and everyone is entitled to disagree with me (which I know many will….).
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My anticipation for Rouge was off the charts, and I was counting down the days to its release. But after receiving the NetGalley a few days before publication and trying to dive in, I felt no pull to keep reading the story. While the concept is intriguing, and the last 70 pages make up for the rest of the book, much of the novel was too on-the-nose and repetitive. Rouge would have been better served as a short story or novella, as around 30% of this book needed to be cut either because of repetition or because it was mundane.
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I felt the societal critiques are the strongest when Awad takes us on a gothic fantasy trip in the last third of the book. The discussions around colorism ( brightening/ lightening in skincare), intergenerational trauma, and the amount of money & pain women are willing to go through to become beautiful were the most powerful in those moments.
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While I haven’t read Bunny (yes, yes, I will soon), I felt Alls Well was much better at being subtle in making commentary without literally forcing it down our throats.
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Again, this would have been a fantastic short story. All the themes explored were terrific. But unfortunately, it was too drawn out and slightly pedantic.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me an advanced copy for an honest review

i do have to add a disclaimer to this review and say that i DNF’d this book at 50%. however, i spoiled myself for the ending and read enough of the story to get a sense for the plot, characters, and tone to write a review. maybe another reader will feel the same way as me.

i also wanted to preface this by saying that Bunny is one of my favorite books of all time. the unique narrative voice, satirical nature, and subtle criticism of academia were all incredibly well done. i’m know that book is not for everyone, but it worked for me. All’s Well was good in my opinion, but not great. unfortunately, Rouge just wasn’t doing it for me. like i mentioned, i looked up the ending, and i’m glad i decided to DNF because i really don’t think i would like where the story headed.

as for the plot, the story just got too slow moving, repetitive, and boring for me. i was interested in this cult/secret society that the main character’s mom was involved in. i thought more of the book would be set within this secret club, but it turns out it wasn’t (at least from the parts that i read). in addition, it felt like the author was hitting me over the head with the themes/messages of the story—how the beauty industry uses consumers’ vulnerabilities against them and how our own self-perception is often based on our parents’ self-perception (specifically with mothers and daughters). i prefer to have the themes be subtly explored rather than spelled out.

i also didn’t care so much or connect with any of the characters. i can do unlikable characters, but the main character in this book was so bland. i couldn’t tell you a singular fact about her personality; whereas with Bunny, i truly felt the loneliness and need for acceptance that Samantha felt (sorry to be comparing this book to her others so much, but i know what this author is capable of). while i could tell this book was written by Mona Awad, it lacked the sarcasm and snark prevalent in her other books.

overall, i wouldn’t run to recommend this. maybe it would work for a specific reader, but i don’t think it holds up to Awad’s previous work. if you want a dark fairy tale with a dream-like quality and minimal plot that critiques the beauty industry (very heavily, i might add), you may enjoy this. i’m so sad that this didn’t work for me.

thank you to Netgalley, Mona Awad, and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rouge is a fascinating meditation not only on family trauma, grief, and self-worth, but also on the ways that we inherit our senses of these features. Stylistically, this won't be for everyone, but it is for me, and I'll be recommending it judiciously.
This is a truly memorable book that incorporates elements of horror, women's fiction, and fairy tale all based on the nightmare that is understanding the price of physical beauty and the value we place upon ourselves as a result of that external appearance, positive or negative though it may be.

After reading both Bunny and All's Well this year, I was very excited to be approved for a digital ARC of Rouge. If you are a Mona Awad fan, this book does not disappoint.

I've heard others describe this as a Beauty and the Beast retelling. For me, this was much more of a Snow White retelling, complete with magic mirror.

Our main character is Mirabelle. She is obsessed with skin care and spends much of her free time watching YouTube videos on beauty and trying new regimes. After her mother dies suddenly, she travels to Southern California and descends into a dreamlike grief state that will leave you questioning reality. She literally wears her mother's shoes and follows her footsteps to a coastal beauty spa (cult) that offers her free treatments she cannot seem to resist.

I read this book along with my daughter and we both enjoyed discussing the mother-daughter relationship, as well as the themes of race, beauty, and the way the beauty industry preys on women. The ending left us both in tears. I loved it and can't wait to read what Mona Awad writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon Element, and Marysue Rucci Books for the advance copy in return for my honest review.

Thank you to @_simonelement for the @netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Pub 9/12, swipe for goodreads synopsis.

This book was weird af but in a good way! It was eccentric and has elements of being about a cult, aliens, and the devil. I couldn’t really tell what exactly what happening and feel like there might have been some plot holes but I was thoroughly entertained. It did feel a little long though. The cover is stunning!

It’s also kind of Snow White or another fairy tale meets a beauty cult. Awad really focused on beauty and our obsession with skincare and perfectionism. I loved that it was set in La Jolla (San Diego). I thought the writing was fantastic. I’d love to see this be made into a movie. If you’ve read this please let me know Wtf you thought happened 🤪

⚠️: death of parent, grief, body issues/dysmorphia, adult/minor relationship

Belle is distraught by her mother’s sudden death. She had been so full of life, glowing, literally, until the night she threw herself off a cliff into the ocean. In her grief, Belle becomes involved with Rouge, the titular secretive society built around advanced beauty treatments, the same society her mom was involved with up until her death. Struggling financially, she gives up on being able to afford the treatments, but a generous benefactor agrees to sponsor her instead. But what happens when the treatments are complete, when she has nothing left to improve? What happens when a rose reaches the apex of its beauty?

This dark retelling of Snow White critiques the beauty industry and society’s rigid expectations for women. The pacing is well-done and I was captivated throughout.
As a big fan of Mona Award’s other work, “Bunny,” this novel does have some similarities — mainly cults, the excellent writing style, the focus on female characters, and bizarre and dreamlike horror elements.

Fans of Bunny, literary horror, and those who are jaded with the beauty industry will most likely enjoy this novel. This is a great read to start off the spooky season.

Spooky fever dream of a book. Having read bunny and alls well I feel like if I read this book without knowing who wrote it I would be able to tell that it was another hit by Mona. I loved her use of language and the slips in and out of the wrong word. It added so much to the delirium vibe of this book.

This book has been on my mind since I finished it. I love the way it delved into the darkest aspects of beauty and skin care culture but my favorite thing about this book was the exploration of a mother's expectations. The way daughters are saddled with all this emotional baggage. Beauty viewed through the lens of safety and how twisted that can become when held up to the light. Mona Awad is a unique talent and the personality of her prose and storytelling ability jump effortlessly off of each and every page.

A twisted, hypnotic tale of horror about everlasting beauty, Rouge reminds me immensely of the film Suspiria (the 2018 re-imagined remake by Luca Guadagnino), both in its aesthetic (gothic, eerily beautiful) as well as narrative structure (a slow-burn mystery descends into full-blown hysteria). Mona Awad is known for creating an engrossing ambiance, and Rouge maintains that literary excellence with fusion of fairy tale imagery, film noir, Hollywood glam, and commentary on beauty standard.

While Rouge conjures up countless memorable vignettes (the cryptic cover art hits different once you know what it represents), and the writing is consistently visceral, at times even downright chilling (there's a recurring motif of words being replaced, seemingly by error, by similar-sounding words, which actually insinuate further subtext), the novel crumbles slightly when it comes to its closing act. By clearly defining certain events as reality, it loses the hazy ambiguity it has been constructing throughout (Is it all just a hallucination of its protagonist?), and makes questioning its logic that much more vulnerable (how can something so outrageous happen without alarming the neighborhood/police?), which dampen the effectiveness of the overall narrative.

Still, the vast majority of Rouge has me completely hooked in its dream logic world. Personally I find this title even more immersive comparing to her last effort, All's Well, which I already quite enjoyed. This really solidify Mona Awad as a must-read author—looking forward to the next one!

You'll never view your skin care regimen the same again

Also, Tom Cruise and jellyfish may creep you out after reading this.

What starts as a beauty industry horror story turns into a generational pain of mothers casting their own desires onto their daughters. To be beautiful is to be valuable and safe and wanted. Aren't those things all mothers want for their daughters? Mothers then project their own fears and weaknesses onto their daughters, thus creating a domino effect through the generations.

I loved all the descriptions of skin care products and perfumes. Some descriptions were so good I was pretty sure I knew which product she was lampooning. Then there was the use of colors. It might have been stretched a little far, but the indulgence in red, red, RED, circles through tedious and comes back around to appropriate and well suited.

What's most fascinating is Awad's use of language. It's simplistic and frank, while at the same time doesn't specifically say anything. It's a dance around an idea. Is Tom Cruise real? Was any of it real? And if it was real, to what extent?

I guess the moral of the story is "Mothers be kind to your daughters, and daughters be forgiving of your mothers."

Story: 5 stars
Character Development: 3 stars
Writing: 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of Rouge.
I wish I could say that this author totally works for me but this is my third book of her’s and none quite do it for me. Some of the objectives of the story were compelling, like the endless search for the perfect beauty regimen. The daily grind that people endure to find that cocktail of skin treatments for enduring and perfected beauty. This is told through a fairy tale retelling at the base of the story with a fever dream pushing the plot forward. I appreciated the use of these methods to show the ridiculousness of this constant drive for skin care that maintains a youthful glow and the lengths that people will go to for perpetual youth. My issue came about halfway through the story when it began to drag. There was a slowdown in the story and it started to feel tedious.
Overall, I think this book does what it sets out to do and does so in a very Mona Awad fashion. This will be perfection to some readers but I realize that her writing is a unique experience and more appreciated by others. Not my favorite because of my preference, not the writing or story.
#Rouge #Netgalley #SimonElement/MarysueRucciBooks

✨ Review ✨ Rouge by Mona Awad

Well this is a freaking wild ride of a book! I found it slow but enjoyable -- I couldn't read more than a few chapters at time, at least until I got to the last third of the book.

**NOTE** This has flashbacks back to the past that aren't marked and I'm betting this would be super confusing as an audiobook -- definitely recommend a physical or ebook copy so that you can flip back as well.**

Belle's mom dies and she ends up back in Southern California to tie up loose ends -- but things are kind of off -- broken mirrors, a house in semi-disrepair, she sold out of her shop she'd owned since Belle was younger and the new owner has completely changed the vibe. Belle's obsessed with skin care - layers and layers of creams and mists and oils and more, and she finds that maybe her mom was doing a lot of skin care too. She discovers a silver dress and red shoes that carry her off into the distance....

Saying more might mess up the experience, but it was a wild journey filled with skin care and a disconnect from reality and this world that was never quite clear. This is my first Mona Awad, but definitely sounds like her style from friends who've read her other books? I can't wait to read more of her work!

There's a lot going on here with beauty and expectations and our deepest desires. What would you give up to be beautiful and young-looking forever?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: literary fiction
Setting: Southern California
Reminds me of:
Pub Date: out now!

Read this if you like:
⭕️ skin care and/or discussions of beauty
⭕️ mannequins & dresses & shoes
⭕️ literary fiction that makes you wonder what's real

Thanks to Simon Element, S&S/ Marysue Rucci Books and #netgalley for an advanced e-copy of this book!