Normally I’m not a fan of books where you don’t know what’s going on until the last little bit but somehow Mona Awad does it perfectly for me. I was engaged and curious the entire time even though I had very little idea about what was really happening. I think fans of Bunny will like this a bit more than fans of Alls Well will, but as an Alls Well fan myself I still enjoyed it thoroughly.

3.5 ⭐️ rounded

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC!

Okay, I won’t lie, Mona Awad’s Bunny was one of the strangest books I’ve ever read. I don’t even know if I properly understood it. Initially, I was hesitant to read Rouge, but when I read the plot and saw that it was not only a Beauty and the Beast retelling but a deep look into society’s beauty standards … I knew I had to read it.

Maybe this is me being nitpicky because of the Beauty and the Beast reviews, but I get why the FMC was named Belle and how she is French, but I feel like Snow White would’ve been a better fit for a fairytale retelling. But you know what? Belle worked. I was here for it.

As a skincare girlie, this hit home. I’m not joking. I have some products in my online cart, trying to figure out which ones work. I can tell you that some brands have such a high audience appeal that it could give odd a cult following. Belle’s mother was so intriguing though. What an enigma. And even Tom Cruise was such an odd choice to have here, but Tom can do whatever he wants.

Did I think this book was too long? Yes. Did I zone out at some points? Yes. Was I still intrigued to finish it? Yes.

I really love Mona Awad's literally horror style but while this one had a lot of great things going for it - a critique of beauty culture, and a cultish spa setting, the end felt like it got a little too crazy even more my tastes. Still a good, well-written read, just not my fav by this author. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

I was really looking forward to receiving Mona Awads second novel, Rouge. After the wild ride that was the nonstop fun of Bunny, I had very high expectations, that unfortunately did not quite deliver. I liked the concept of the unbearable weight of the beauty industry and the dark depths people can go to to meet those standards.
Mirabelle’s complicated relationship with her mother is put into sharp relief upon her mothers unexpected death, and it appears Belle is destined to follow her mothers footsteps.
I found that Rouges slow burn descent into a cosmetic madness a little too slow but I really could see the all too real reflection in the slippery slope of ‘a little something’ here and there can go too far pretty quickly.
Overall I’m looking forward to Awad’s next book, but this one was just alright for me.

This book was really weird, but in a good way! Mona Awad's books always leave me wondering what on earth I just read, and I enjoy it every time! I did like this book more than Bunny, and I appreciated the satirical value of the story as well. I can't wait to see what she writes next!

Rouge was the perfect October read in my opinion… I always go in expecting things to get a bit weird after reading the author’s well known book Bunny. And Rouge did not disappoint in that respect.

Belle has always been obsessed with her skincare and routine. It seems to be passed down from her estranged mother, Noelle. When Noelle mysteriously dies, Belle has to travel to Southern California to handle her affairs. Belle finds her way to a spa that her mother was devoted to & it’s there that really odd things start happening. Rouge starts to mix in things that verge on sci-fi but also vibes of a cult like in the movie Eyes Wide Shut.

If you’ve read Bunny, you’ll understand the types of twists and turns you’re in for with this one.

Thank you to @netgalley, the author and @penguinrandomca for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

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A book that makes fun of and takes a deeper look at the beauty industry, mixed in with dark humour in it, sold me right away. Maybe I am the sick and twisted one because they sold me on it from the Belle, but understand why some people may not be because Mona Awad spells everything out for the reader so they don't have to piece much together at the end. Still, most people are not like me and I am going to tell you why I love it.

This has to be one of the better darkly humorous books on the beauty industry I have ever read. I felt the humour added so well to the descriptive horrors of red and white imagery so well that it balanced the book so beautifully. I honestly felt like I was in the same drugged out dreams that Belle was because of how well Mona Awad's writing style is. The descriptions of red jellyfish and mirrors were enough for the hair to stand up on my arms that I had to wear sweaters so I wouldn't notice, and that makes me tip my hat to her. It's difficult to get me to laugh at Horror.

What people are not going to like are that the book can be slightly repetitive with its theme and Tom Cruise, that I can see some people put the book down. Although, I hope people stick with it because the jabs about the beauty industry hit every target. Plus, those last sixty to seventy pages are a dynamite to read. They pull no punches of emotion, description, terror, and excitement. I am fairly certain that if the book started off at this pace, we would all be in the hospital with heart palpitations.

I recommend everyone to give this young Dean Koontz type of writer a try because you will not be disappointed. Unless you are Tom Cruise, and part of the beauty industry. Although, I don't think the jellyfish would care at all unless they are looking in the mirror at themselves.

Keep reading, but remember to stay out of trouble.

Love Always, Chris Humphrey

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley, and this is the first time I haven’t finished a book I’ve got from there. I started it, and honestly forgot about it. Then when I remembered and there were only 5 days left before it expired I tried to get into it again, but I just was not compelled to finish it, I was just not interested enough. The writing was fine, but I got about a third of the way into it and though it teases at intrigue, it didn’t capture my imagination.

A dark thriller.
A look into the beauty industry and the price some people will pay for their idea of beauty.

This is a creepy mind-bending horror about a young woman named Mirabelle who lives her life in Montreal, Quebec far away from her estranged mother, Noelle, who lives in California. Unfortunately, Noelle suddenly passes and Mirabelle is left to pick up the pieces left behind. She travels to California, learns that her mother's dress shop has been sold, and that her mother had many "quirks" that she was unaware of but there are many clues to in her disheveled apartment. Following the funeral services, Mirabelle finds herself compelled to explore a mysterious home nearby to her mother's apartment and tumbles into a community of creepy and confusing people who may or may not have her best interests in mind.

I loved this book. Mona Award can do no wrong. She is an automatic read author for me, and I cannot wait to see what she does next.

3.5 stars, rounded to 4.

Rouge is a very strange, weird story that I would describe as being a “horror-lite tale”, about those seeking beauty. The beauty industry preys on women who are obsessed with youth and glowing, bright skin. Rouge presents the idea of a cult-like, secret spa that holds all the secrets and opportunity to preserve and enhance beauty.

Mona Awad is a talented writer, and has created a story in the horror genre that is brilliant and bold. I personally found the story so strange and odd, it was difficult to be riveted towards picking it up when I got about two-thirds through. I did want to know what happened to the main character though which kept me reading to the end. .

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

3.5/5, rounded down. There were things about this book that I really liked. What it had to say about the scam that is the beauty industry. What it had to say about how so many beauty ideals are tied to whiteness and what that means for non-white people (particularly women). What it had to say about the sometimes complicated relationship between mothers and daughters, especially if those mothers are contending with past traumas (and how said traumas can be passed down). But the book was too long and repetitive, so that it became a bit of a slog to get to the finish line. By the last 15-20% of the book, the plot really picks up and I thought the ending was very satisfying, but by then it almost felt like too little, too late. I think part of the problem for me was that I wasn't sure if I liked the main character. It's not that she was a bad person, but more that a lot of her behaviour didn't make sense to me. Strange, inexplicable, even horrifying things happen to her, and she either ignores the red flags, or doesn't even register them as red flags. I guess for much of the book she struck me as extremely naive, shallow, and maybe even a little stupid, which got pretty frustrating for me as the book wore on and on. All in all, I think it was just fine and worth a read if the synopsis sounds interesting to you or if you like weird fairy tale horror stories, but this definitely isn't a book that will have mass appeal to a broad range of readers.

The atmosphere in Rouge is confusing and cloudy. Our narrator is having memory issues and we are following her descent into madness. Awad plays with reality by having a normal conversation where dialogue is punctuated and transforming it into a weird and otherworldly feeling by losing the punctuation and using italics instead. It is unsettling but in a way that fits the narrative.

Mirabelle, our main character, is obsessed with skincare, and her late mother found the holy grail of spas. Too bad it's also a weird mind-destroying cult. The absolute hands-down, best part of this book is that one of our characters is Tom Cruise. You couldn't have picked a better person to fit this story.

I would have upped my rating if reality had been a little more secure and if Awad had not talked about teeth so many times. There are 22 mentions of teeth.

This book was a fever dream. Belle falls down the rabbit hole after the sudden death of her mother. In pursuit of perfect skin, following in her mother's footsteps, she loses her sense of self and maybe even her soul, Very trippy and weird. There was a lot going on here and not all loose ends are tied up. Enjoyable but I preferred other books by Mona Awad more. Reminded me a lot of Melissa Broder's Death Valley.

For as long as Belle can remember she has been hooked on skin care regimes and how to videos. When her mom dies in California she is out of her element figuring out all her mothers debts and trying to figure out her mother's unexplained death. Things go from bad to worse when a woman in red shows up at the funeral and offers Belle a chance of a lifetime. With the help of a pair of red shoes she enters a world where beauty is the only thing that is important and what below the surface isn't wanted.
This is one those books that the characters are so varied and you want to hug them all. Belle is a girl who has been insecure her whole life . She felt that she wasn't good enough so she religiously took care of her skin and wanted that perfect glow. She falls under the spell of how a perfect woman should be. She is does come out the other side but is she better for it or will she find herself in the same boat as her mother and obsessed with the mirrors and watch her beauty fade as time goes by.
This is the first novel I have read from this author and from chapter one I was pulled into a world where beauty is everything and no one sees beyond that . The author really turns the beauty industry on its side. It shows how unrealistic the beauty industry is and what women would do to try and get that perfect look that is unattainable. This book is equal parts , horror, dark comedy and entertaining .Keeps you on the edge of your seat through out and you really start to feel for the main character. This author writes intelligent thought provoking stories and can't wait to read more from this author. Check it out it would be a great Halloween read

I was in a little reading slump and didn't know exactly what I wanted to read but could pinpoint needing something horror-esque with substance and escapism. Let me tell you, I was not disappointed when I chose Rouge by Mona Awad!

Hearing whispers of how Awad writes, I've put many of her books on my TBR, but this is finally my first time reading one. I'm not sure what I expected from this book, but it ended up blowing my ever loving mind! It's a little bit Snow White, a little bit Alice And Wonderland, and I happily followed that white rabbit down the hole, discovering that Wonderland was something to behold!

My notes upon finishing went something like this:
-was this a fever dream? I literally have no idea what it was about.
-this is the strangest book I've ever read, but I liked it? Question mark. I think.
-as much as I don't know what this book was about - it's going to be in my head for a long time. Forever?

Then I sat and pondered. And my thoughts went something like this:
-it's about grief. It was ridiculous and meaningful and out there.
-it's dark, eerie, haunting, and spooky. It was way more than I anticipated while being nothing at all.
-it's cult-y and atmospheric. It's about mother daughter relationships; the beauty industry, consumerism, and religion.
-it's an insane fever dream of a messed up look at many facets of life. Maybe.

And finally:
-I'm just not mad about this book - although I can't articulate what it is I liked.
-I just don't know what I read, but I enjoyed every part of it.
-it's roses, jellyfish, Tom Cruise, and ocean waves.
-there's a beat; a dark undertone. This book has a sound, making it a multi-sensory experience.

In summary:
-what didn't I like about it, is really the question!?
-Fives stars, because I liked it all!
-I don't know WTF it was... but I loved it.

Thank you NetGalley, Penguin Random House Canada and Hamish Hamilton for the complimentary copy to read and review.

Book Journal #100
Once again I’m posting out of order, but for a perfectly good reason: the amazing people over at Random House Canada and NetGalley, as well as Mona Awad, have given me access to Rouge.

Belle’s story starts as if someone were watching a home movie of her and her mother at bedtime when she’s a kid. But we’re soon moved to the main timeline of the story, which is when we learn that her mother has passed away. She travels to somewhere in California, and attends her funeral, where one of the guests makes a weird reference to how she passed. All around the house, there are empty red jars, which Belle recognizes as beauty products her mother was obsessed with using.

Not that Belle herself isn’t hyper focused on her beauty regimen. She uses a plethora of products
to keep her skin glowing and young, and follows the teachings of an online beauty guru like it’s the law. As she’s packing up her mother’s apartment, Belle finds some shoes that lead her to the spa her mother frequented. Once she visits, she’s treated to a free procedure, and is considered almost a celebrity by everyone there.

The new treatments make Belle… (the lack of actual description by anyone other than Belle herself is one of the things that kept me on edge). Her memory seems to begin to fade, and we experience some flashbacks, portraying the relationship of Belle and her mother.

The book was definitely not what I expected, not that I know exactly what that was. It was very disturbing, in the sense that it was making me uncomfortable to not know what was going on. Thankfully it all does get explained by the end, and we’re not left wondering forever. This doesn’t sound very promising, but the fact is I was very drawn into the story, to the point where I extended my lunch hour to finish reading.

Oh Mona. Thank you for this wonderful trip.

After reading Bunny, I'd fully hoped for a book that would shake my entire world and make me question every word I've read and she did not disappoint me.

Rouge focuses on the beauty industry (skin care, specifically) but only in a way Mona Awad can.
Belle's mother has died, the woman who taught her everything about beauty - the glow, the brightness, the journey. After an odd encounter with a guest at her funeral, Belle's world gets a whole lot brighter, but also a hell of a lot more confusing. Entangling herself with a group of women, all focused on having the most beautiful skin, Belle is slowly beginning to wonder if her mother was involved in something a bit more sinister than she initially thought. But what's more important, escaping their grip or finally obtaining the perfect glow?

The entire journey, I didn't know up from down, my ass from a hole in the ground, however you want to word it, I was disoriented (but very pleased with this feeling!). The book was filled with sunshine and roses, and a dark underbelly that never lets you get too comfortable. The humor was wonderful, the magic was strong, the writing was *chef's kiss*, I'm so glad to have gotten my hands on a copy! A big thank you to NetGalley, Mona Awad and Penguin Random House for gifting me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Mona Awad's books make me feel old and rather daft. I know there is deep talent in her writing, her wit, her concepts, but in back to back books I have had to draaaaaag myself to keep reading. I think this is a me problem, so there is no rating on GoodReads

WARNING: This book may influence you to buy an unreasonable amount of skincare products!

When Mirabelle's (Belle) mother unexpectedly dies she finds herself travelling from snowy Montreal to sunny LA to take care of the funeral and her estate. Having always envied her mother's effortlessly good looks, she has strived her whole adult life to find the "magic" potion. Spending ungodly amounts of time and money on her skincare products., to say it is an obsession would be an understatement. While her mother has always told her she doesn't need the items or routines, Belle is surprised to see her mother's beautiful oceanside apartment in a state of disrepair and filled with hundreds of empty red skincare bottles. More curious is the major life changes her mother seems to have left her out of over the past couple of months. She is shocked to learn her mother was in extreme debt and had sold her shares of her beloved dress shop, Belle of the Ball, to her business partner. When she gets a mysterious invitation to an extremely exclusive spa for a free treatment she finds herself putting on her mother's red shoes and letting them lead her to the isolated and enchanted house on the ocean, Belle finds herself slowly spiralling in the same way her mother seems to have just a few months earlier.

This book was beautifully written and the author has such a great way of making you so unsettled with a subtle way of speech changes throughout the book. It will make you unsettled and beyond curious at the same time. I am planning to read her last novel Bunny ASAP! As an author, she will be an instant buy for me! this is the perfect read for the spooky season!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC, all opinions are my own!