Fans of the roman a clef will eat up this novel of women (and men) in the cosmetic industry. It tracks the rise of three women- Josiah, Constance, and CeeCee- in the cosmetic industry. While there's much fodder here, this would have benefited from another edit to fix repetition (Josiah's looks, the little jars of cream), especially in the early chapters and to track for historical accuracy and timing (the ability to see sheep on the hills when a ships pulls into harbor in Australia, how Constance ended up at a Seven Sisters college in the US and then poof into society, the colors of makeup worn in the 1920s etc). There's a better book in here. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. A rare pass for me.

Inspired by the lives and rivalries of the pioneers of the cosmetics industry (think Helena Rubenstein, Elizabeth Arden, Madam C. J. Walker, Max Factor), Rouge tells the story of two women who founded cosmetics companies and became the richest women in the world. This is a fast, fun read, perfect for taking on vacation or to the beach. Recommended for anyone who loves the glamour of the 1920's and 1930's, or books about the golden age of Hollywood, such as The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC.

Lindas Book Obsession Reviews “Rouge A Novel of Beauty and Rivalry” by Richard Kirshenbaum, St. Martins Press, June 25, 2019

Richard Kirshenbaum, Author of “Rouge A Novel of Beauty and Rivalry” has written an intriguing, intense, emotional and captivating novel. The Genres for this Novel are Fiction, Women’s Fiction, with a splash of Suspense. The timeline of the story progresses over the years. The author discusses the earliest cosmetic industry, and how it progresses. The characters are described as complex, complicated, aggressive, obsessed, dysfunctional, greedy and quirky.

Beauty and wealth seem to be always in demand. In this novel, Josephine Herz and Constance Gardiner (both names have been changed) become competitors in the game of beauty and money. One has a door to door beauty business, and one establishes exclusive salons. There are dark secrets, formulas, spies, and even death. This is not a business for the weak of heart.

There are other characters involved in this business as well. The goal is to be the most famous, the wealthiest and to get the patent for the formula first. After all, women want to look their best, no matter what the cost. (and men as well ) I recommend this novel for those readers who enjoy a suspenseful and intriguing read.

Rouge is a deliciously catty, snarky and highly entertaining portrayal of two pioneers of the beauty industry. Josephine Herz and Constance Gardiner (inspired by cosmetic icons Helena Rubinstein and Elizabeth Arden) come from very different backgrounds and wind up rivals in New York City. Josephine, a Polish Jew, is sent to live with her aunt and uncle in Australia where she soon discovers her talent for salesmanship and beauty advice. After a successful start there, she moves onto London, Paris and ultimately New York leaving her mark in each place. Constance leaves her home in Canada straight for New York where she first goes to work for a pharmaceutical company, learning all she can in order to launch her own company. Eventually these two titans find themselves in a race to be the first to introduce the modern mascara onto the market by using every trick they have learned in chemistry, product development and business.

Set against the backdrop of world events and presenting the difficulties of women’s struggle to compete in the world of business dominated by men, Rouge is a fast paced, entertaining and fascinating novel. Josephine and Constance are complex, intriguing and dynamic characters as are the cast of secondary characters. Readers may find themselves rooting for one or the other along the way, but they will never find themselves bored! I highly recommend this novel to fans of historical fiction and women’s fictions as well as those interested in stories about the beginnings of the beauty industry.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the free review copy. All opinions are my own. 

What a rivalry in this book. I enjoyed how the author was able to show how two different businesses could both find success and disaster in the beauty industry. I found the contrast between Constance, Josephine, and CeeCee to be well done. I think that their personalities worked well in the story arc to show how three women could influence and run an industry. 

However, I found that I did not like any of these characters, so it made it hard for me to be involved in the book. I didn't even have a character that I loved to hate. I think that this will appeal to many people that like historical fictions that stretches among decades and shows how businesses can be successful.

Kirshenbaum’s story about early cosmetic visionaries navigating their paths from immigrant to multi-billionaire mogul felt more authentic knowing the author’s real-life connection within the industry. I was drawn into his tale of glamor, betrayal and revenge. These women were extremely competitive, shrewd and ruthless. Clearly, backstabbing to get ahead and limitless money does not buy happiness.

*will post to online venues upon publication.

I loved this book!!!!!!!!!!!! It is a delicious drama filled story of two make up moguls always trying to outdo the other. Josephine Herz comes to America with big dreams and does whatever it takes to make them come true. Constance Gardiner has big dreams in the make up business also. Both women make their companies huge successes and are in competition with each other their whole adult lives.. Read along as we follow these two women in their journey to be the best in the business. Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for my honest review.

Rouge is the story of three women who become entrepreneurs in the beauty industry in the 1930's. It follows their careers as they invent different types of cosmetics and the reason why they were invented. It is the story of how women can be ruthless when they are climbing the all important "ladder" of success, and how each will step on the other's toes to make it first to the top.

The story begins as the women's rag to riches stories are each told. And how backstabbing between them never stopped, even when they all had succeeded. For them it was not just the climb, but the obsession of staying at the top and trying to push everybody else down. These women become obsessed with fame, power, fortune and social standing and will do anything, including murder, to stay there.

Josiah Herzenstein (Josephine Hertz) was born a Polish Jew who had to keep her heritage a secret. When she leaves Poland to come to America she becomes a workaholic in order to prove her worth and creates a cosmetic company which skyrockets her onto the global stage.

Constance Gardner is her rival. She too had ideas on what women would like, only her approach was a bit different. She, like Josephine, has secrets of her own. Secrets which could destroy her company. And she skyrockets to fame as well. Both women despise each other, and are jealous of the other's fame and power. Unfortunately they feel there can only be room for one cosmetic heiress.

Cee Cee Lopez worked for Constance for many years. She too had an invention which was overlooked. As an African American woman her journey is very different than Josephine and Constance. She will do anything to be the first African American woman to become a millionaire in the cosmetic industry. When a situation occurs and she breaks with Constance she sees this as her chance.

Included in the intriguing story are of course love affairs, heartbreak and intense hatred among the rivals. With everyone trying to vie to be the most extraordinary cosmetic genius, and each plotting against the other, can anybody survive?

This was such an interesting read with a different story. It truly had it all.

Rouge comes out June 25.

Thank you to #NetGalley #St. Martin's Press #Rouge #Richard Kirschenbaum for the advanced copy.

A delicious novel historical fiction at its best. Based on the real life story of the women strong women who were founders of the cosmetic industry.The fights the cattiness the competition based on real life protagonists who were biter enemies as they strive to succeed as pioneers in this cut throat industry,#netgalley #st.martinspress.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an Advanced Readers Copy of this book. This book for the most part takes place the 1930’s and 1940’s and is about competing cosmetic companies and the lives of the women who started them. At times I found the book interesting, but for me I never really connected with the characters which will put this over the top for me. Writing was very good, just unfortunately the topic was a bit lackluster in my opinion only. I think there are many readers who will absolutely love this one.

Rouge is the intriguing and often catty story of Josephine and Constance and their rise in the beauty industry. Mirroring the real life feud of Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubenstein, Rouge has a bit of glamour, behind the scenes gossip, power struggles and sex! Loved it!

Absolutely loved this novel! Excellent character development, the storyline was fluid and kept me in suspense and wanting to learn more about the characters.

Rouge by Richard Kirshenbaum opens in 1983 for one chapter and then takes the reader back to the 1930's, the 1920's, and ahead in the main characters lives. Rouge is an interesting sage mainly about two competing women and those who touched their lives. I was given an early copy to review.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fantastic piece of historical fiction! I loved that it was a grand, sweeping story, rather than getting caught up in the minute details that can drag you down as a reader. I thought Kirshenbaum did a marvellous job of setting you in this glamorous but incredibly competitive world, and of creating characters that are real people. As someone who studies fashion history, it was quite interesting to read about the development of beauty products, even from a fictional standpoint, as it is often forgotten for clothing.

The make up industry in the 1930's -- what a perfect story!! I loved every word of this book. Richard did an amazing job taking back to a time I knew nothing about!! He will hook you with this story in the first chapter and keep you reading til the last!!

Tried very hard to keep reading this book but it couldn't keep my interest. I couldn't connect to the characters at all..

Rouge is a delightful and fun historical fiction novel based somewhat loosely on the real life feud between Helena Rubinstein (Josephine Herz) and Elizabeth Arden (Constance Gardiner) during the rise of their respective beauty empires during the mid to the latter parts of the twentieth century. The two are so much more alike in their thinking and creativity than they realize. Both women actually thrive on the retaliatory moves they make in response to one another's business decisions.
There is also an array of supporting characters drawn from the icons of the cosmetic industry, (think Charles Revson, Max Factor, Madame C. J. Walker and Sarah Spencer Washington etc.) to round out the story. The novel is fast paced and once I started it, I couldn't put it down.

Rouge is a deep dive into the beginnings of the modern beauty industry where two rivals go head to head to outdo each other, and to get beyond their humble starts. Constance is a Canadian who sees the world for the taking, though she has to often deal with her brother's secrets. Josephine is a Polish immigrant living in Australia, just waiting for her big break when it comes to selling her beauty creams. Throughout the decades they are both faced with successes, marriages, children and failures in all aspects, creating a strange bond, even within a deep professional rivalry.

This book is being compared to The Swans of Fifth Avenue, which I've read and don't think measures up to the same type of historical fiction. For one, this book tries to mask a real story under fictional characters. The Swans of Fifth Avenue used as many real-life figures as possible, making it more interesting and intriguing. This book didn't do the same for me. Instead of wanting to read more of this, I just wanted to find something to read that would tell me the real story of this rivalry instead.

The story begins in 1922 and continues into 1993. Two strong, independent-minded, single women have their own dream to own a beauty business.

Josiah become Josephine Herz, a Jewess who escaped the Nazi invasion of Poland by fleeing to Melbourne Australia with an armload of facial and body creams. Josephine grows an empire of cosmetic products sold in her salons.

Meanwhile tall, blonde Constance Gardiner is in NYC setting up a door to door sales force with her beauty line giving women an opportunity to earn money while raising a family.

The rivalry escalates and other players enter the market as either independents or employees of the 2 Queens.

Very interesting business lessons and diverse needs of different skin types are explored.

Historically the time periods cover the dirty 30's, prohibition, the McCarthy era Communist hunts, sexual diversity as well as society rules make it a very fast moving novel.

Inspired by the world of Elizabeth Arden, comes the story of two beauty magnates who will stop at nothing to come out on top! Rouge is the story of Josephine Hertz and Constance Gardiner, two highly competitive women working in a man's world. They are both business owners, they both use their beauty to promote their products, and they are both driven to succeed. They'll do whatever it takes to win... including murder.
Rouge is a surprisingly refreshing take on the early years of the American beauty industry. It's full of charm and whit. Kirshenbaum has done an excellent job of portraying two women who, even though fictitious, could easily be real people in our world today. This is a real page turner. If you like stories of strong willed women full of ambition and deadly rivalry, this is one you have to read!