This book is releasing at the perfect time as we head towards Halloween. This is my first book by Mona Awad and I had no idea what to expect to be honest. This book pleasantly surprised me. Rouge is the story of todays society. It tackles issues that are plaguing women today like the abysmal beauty standards that have been set and also deals with the loss of a parent. I loved the gothic vibes of this book. I’m also a fan of the way Mona Awad writes. I’ll be picking up Bunny after this!

It's fascinating to see Awad get to tackle grief over parental death, and get to lean into Lynchian creepiness, beauty cults, ghosts of glamour, and to see it all coalesce into neon red and glowing crumbling gothic black ~vibes~. It's the fairy tale equivalent of daring to look into the masks of the people you see around you and find nothing else underneath, and realizing what's really there. Also, your darkest desires taking the form of the teenage crush you had on a poster in your room. Definitely a hell of a read, and perfect for spooky season. This is out next week; pick it up!

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for a ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

Ok Bunnies... Mona is at it again

This book will not be for everyone

This book is about unrealistic beauty standards, race, a dark mother/daughter dynamic, and the mental stability. It is dark, wild, and thought-provoking. A combination of horror, dark comedy, and social commentary.

You will walk away from this book thinking, "what the hell did I just read?", but I immediately wanted to jump right back into it. Similar to Bunny, I think this is a book I will enjoy again and again and take something new away every time.

Rouge by Mona Awad is a horror fairytale retelling.
Belle is completely obsessed with skin care products. She spends much of her day applying them, researching them, and searching for new ones. Her her mother unexpectedly passes away she must return to her home town to settle her affairs. She soon gets involved in the strange spa down the street that her mother visited. Shee's forced to confront her past and future as more details come to light.
This was so good and so creepy. I could not put it down. I love the fairy tale elements that Awad weaves throughout the story and the unsettling descriptions she writes.

Mona Awad has done it again. I was sure it would be difficult for her to write a book that I adored more than Bunny, but somehow, she surpassed my expectations. With gorgeous prose, unmatched dark fairytale ~vibes~, a complex mother-daughter relationship, and the perfect balance between flashy intrigue and creeping dread, Rouge was everything I wanted it to be and more. I particularly loved the tongue-in-cheek skincare focus and the subtle exploration of whiteness as the dominant societal beauty standard. Mona's books are now an automatic buy for me. I can't wait to read more from this author.

I’m not going to give this book a bad review, just because it wasn’t for me. The story was unique but I think it was just too weird for my particular taste. I got 100 pages in and just couldn’t do it anymore. I think people who are a fan of this author and weird twists on fairytales will absolutely LOVE this book, unfortunately it just wasn’t for me.

I was so excited to get this ARC and it sure did not disappoint. This story has many layers; mother-daughter relationships, the extremes of today's beauty standards. Part horror, part fairy tale that was a dive into madness and read like a fever dream. This was a strange and weird read in the best way possible. Just a bit in the middle lost me and the story got a little repetitive which is why I will knock off a star. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this e-Arc in exchange for my honest review.
4 stars

That was unlike anything I’ve ever read before, a strange combination of humor and horror. I won’t think of spa treatments, skincare and mirrors in the same way again! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ms. Mona Awad is a genius, integrating elements of gothic and contemporary literature with the most unsettling aspects of horror to create a modern masterpiece. This book made me want to apply to PhD programs in Women’s Lit just so I could hold lectures about the complexities in this book and have people collectively analyze this text. Awad has a talent for artfully highlighting the long-term psychological effects of strained mother-daughter relationships that I really appreciate. The mother wound isn’t something that’s talked about enough and Awad also alludes to colonial trauma that leads to the mother wound.

In my opinion, the critique of the beauty industry in Rouge is only one of the many social critiques being made.

I’d recommend Rouge to folks who appreciate multi-faceted storytelling with rich literary value, enjoy unlikable but highly relatable characters, are comfortable with feeling a little uncomfortable, and fans of Tom Cruise.

Mona Awad always takes me places with her stories. Granted, they're not always places I really want to go -- but somehow I always enjoy the journey, no matter what surreal horrors await.

Awad's new novel Rouge is an evisceration of societal beauty standards and an exploration of the mother-daughter relationship as only she could write it. I don't want to say too much about the plot, because it's best to be surprised by the wonders and terrors that you'll find within its pages -- but at its most basic this is a dark fairy tale about a mother, a daughter, and the impossible beauty standards to which they are beholden. It's an examination of race and heritage, the complexities of grief, the toxicity of modern beauty culture and "skinfluencers," the trauma and habits we inherit from our mothers, and the ways we sometimes struggle to connect with and relate to the people closest to us.

Rouge reads like a beautiful and terrifying fever dream/nightmare as our heroine Belle ventures deeper and deeper into the abyss. Awad's imagery is sinister and fantastical, her prose hypnotic and gripping. She blends elements of horror, magical realism, dark humor, and social commentary to tell an unforgettable story about the complicated bond between mothers and daughters. Booktok will probably call this book "aesthetic," and it is, in the best way. It will likely be polarizing, but I thought it was absolutely phenomenal, and it's my favorite of Awad's novels so far. Now I just need a film adaptation directed by Ari Aster and starring a reverse-aged Tom Cruise, IYKYK.

4.5 stars rounded up. Thanks to Marysue Ricci Books and NetGalley for the early reading opportunity.

I'm very grateful to have been given an ARC of this novel. I've been a fan of Mona Awad's for some time, and Rouge has only served (severed?) to reinforce that fandom.

Rouge is a difficult book to describe. It stretches beyond magical realism, and a linear plot isn't as important as the journey. Awad's writing is beautiful, poetic, clever, visceral, funny, poignant. She effortlessly paints images with words and the experience of reading becomes its own otherwordly endeavor.

In Rouge, there's a clear criticism of the beauty industry, of beauty standards and expectations placed upon women, and how those standards and expectations show themselves intergenerationally. Rouge also tackles what it means to grow up interracially: the fetishism, the otherness, and the emotional dissonance between what's in the mirror and on the magazine cover.

But, Rouge is also about so much more. I'll leave it to you to discover, as I did, one unfolding petal at a time.

Mona Awad does it yet again! She brings us a deliciously dark fairytale that will leave your head spinning. Just when you think you have it figured out, she ups the ante with some really wild developments.

Tackling the ultra toxic side of the beauty industry and its impact on women of all ages, this layered commentary was grotesquely impactful. But as always, Awad’s stories don’t take themselves too seriously. There’s a feeling while reading that the author knows she’s writing something completely wacky and loving every second. And to be honest, this would fit in well on the skincare addiction circle jerk subreddit as a very elaborate shit post. It was funny and poignant. Tom Cruise?? Comedones of the soul? Awad nailed it and I found myself smiling often while reading.

But the beauty industry isn’t the only theme explored - there are beautifully layered explorations of grief, envy, and growing up as a mixed child with a white family and what that feels like.

My most anticipated release of the year lived up to every expectation I had.

I loved this one so much. Mona’s take on grief in horror is beautiful. Surreal, breathtaking. The visuals were out of this world and the tie ins and flashbacks were so fun.

Ohh the beauty world is toxic? Who would have guessed.

Maybe I'm not the right audience for this, but I really found this book a mix of boring and confusing. I kept waiting for there to be more layers, more showing and less telling; certainly something new and fresh. I loved Bunny, and maybe this is a product of me being more in the academia world than the beauty world, which caused this book fell flat. I did not care about hew long list of products she wore, it was tiresome to have to read. There are some breif glimpses of the mother daughter relationship and the word changes/slips that I found sort of compelling, but on the whole I think there have been better books put out that nail some of the ways the beauty industry is toxic and cultish. It has the same sort of fever dream and going off the rails that seem to be Awad's signature, in this case it just wasn't compelling to me. I would have probably given it three stars and a shrug but wtf was up with all the Tom Cruise and jellyfish. And all the random cuts to french in ways that made zero sense. Someone tell me what I'm missing if this has any relevancy, or if it was just there to drive me up a wall. It's one of those books where I'm not sure who the audience is for, us old folks who are over putting stock in "beauty" will probably just read it thinking, "yes, and...?". While I could see if you are one of those influencers you won't like a mirror being held up. If you a fan of this author's other work you might read it with rose (rouge) tinted glasses, but I wouldn't start with this particular work if you are new to Awad's work.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

There are so many scenes in this book that will forever live rent free in my brain. Mona Awad has not only snatched the beauty industry’s wig bald, she’s officially initiated the start of spooky season! If you dig highly stylized and atmospheric books that read like A24 films - check. If you like modern takes on fairytales, specifically Snow White - check. If Death Becomes Her, Eyes Wide Shut or any other campy movies on beauty standards get you going - check. If you like complex mother/daughter relationships and conversations on grief - check. If you like books that read like fever dreams - extra check. If your favorite colors are red and black and you have an affinity for jellyfish - get ready! And most importantly, if you’ve ever struggled with your own self image or beauty expectations - prepare to be seen!

The story revolves around Belle, a thirty-something woman obsessed with skin regimens thanks to her Mother’s own obsession with appearance. After said mom dies, she returns to California to not only grieve, but to come to terms with the past and the odd relationship that she once had with the mother she envied. But one fateful evening, a pair of red shoes guide Belle to a mysterious estate on a cliff and her life changes forever. What starts as an invitation to a luxurious beauty treatment becomes a descent into madness in this genre-bending literary fiction that blurs the lines between being absurdly funny and deeply disturbing. This book is a wild ride and will make an excellent film adaptation because I can already picture the lush production design and awesome sequences. The cover is also genius. The font. The “rose” - IYKYK. The red and black combo. Chef’s kiss.

Luckily for Awad, the inside of the book matches its striking exterior. Thanks to Simon & Schuster and Marysue Rucci Books for the ARC!

Rouge has elements of fairytales as it spotlights grief, mother-daughter relationships, and the beauty industry, especially how an often unhealthy obsession can develop around staying young and beautiful. It takes a horror laced mirror and holds it up to reflect the dark side of society's infatuation with appearances.

This book was able to horrify me at times and also made me chuckle. It is SO STRANGE and unique. No one does unsettling satire like Mona Awad. She is in a league of her own when it comes to this area of literature.

This story has sexy magic red shoes that will lead you where they want, mesmerizing jellyfish, rogue mirror reflections, random/scary Tom Cruise, lots of mention of roses, generational trauma, and a frightening supernatural beauty cult that American Horror Story would love to adapt into film (I'm sure).

Much like Awad's previous hit novel, Bunny, this story has social commentary, examines mental health, and felt like a fever dream at times. The main character is part Egyptian and she explores her feelings of being non-white while trying to emulate her French mother and the unattainable beauty she thinks she wants.

While I know these type of off the rails, bizarre storylines aren't for everyone, they are for me. I will read whatever Mona wants to write. Her surreal stories get my jaw dropping and head shaking and I love it. Even though a large portion of the book was hectic and wild, the ending was unexpectedly tender and heartfelt. It was special. 🥺

Rouge
By Mona Awad

This is a story about our obsession with beauty and the billion dollar beauty product industry which thrives on feeding that obsession. The reviews call it a work of "artistry and imagination".

Unfortunately, I got bogged down in all the products and skincare videos, and lost interest early on with how the story would develop. I only made it about half way through and gave up.

This book just isn't my cup of tea.

If I could live ONE day in Awad’s mind, my life would be forever changed. She just keeps getting better and better. Usually I tend to binge books, but this one, I simply couldn’t. Every 50 or so pages I’d stop myself simply to absorb every moment and every event occurring.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. Unfortunately, this one didn’t grab me. This book is written well at the line level, but Mona Awad’s style can be…strange, to put it nicely. Almost hallucinatory. And if I’m into the plot (or what there is of a plot) and characters, I’m good. <i>Rouge</i> just never grabbed me. Unfortunately it was a bit of a snooze. I loved this author’s previous books and will certainly check out her next release, whenever it comes!

Wow. I recently discovered Mona Awad from her hit, Bunny, and instantly became a fan. I was so excited for Rouge and was ecstatic when I was approved for the arc. Do yourself a favor and read this book. Her style is beautiful, creepy, and sad. The story explores the relationship between a mother and daughter with a secret between them. The creativity behind this is truly something special and I will recommend this story to anyone and everyone I will talk to. If you love deep, complicated storytelling and ambiguity, this is the book for you.