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.

Oh, God, this book was stunning! A gothic, horror, fairy tale. A meditation on grief. A study of the bonds between a mother and daughter.

From Amazon:
From the critically acclaimed author of Bunny comes a horror-tinted, gothic fairy tale about a lonely dress shop clerk whose mother’s unexpected death sends her down a treacherous path in pursuit of youth and beauty. Can she escape her mother’s fate—and find a connection that is more than skin deep?

For as long as she can remember, Belle has been insidiously obsessed with her skin and skincare videos. When her estranged mother Noelle mysteriously dies, Belle finds herself back in Southern California, dealing with her mother’s considerable debts and grappling with lingering questions about her death. The stakes escalate when a strange woman in red appears at the funeral, offering a tantalizing clue about her mother’s demise, followed by a cryptic video about a transformative spa experience. With the help of a pair of red shoes, Belle is lured into the barbed embrace of La Maison de Méduse, the same lavish, culty spa to which her mother was devoted. There, Belle discovers the frightening secret behind her (and her mother’s) obsession with the mirror—and the great shimmering depths (and demons) that lurk on the other side of the glass.

Snow White meets Eyes Wide Shut in this surreal descent into the dark side of beauty, envy, grief, and the complicated love between mothers and daughters. With black humor and seductive horror, Rouge explores the cult-like nature of the beauty industry—as well as the danger of internalizing its pitiless gaze. Brimming with California sunshine and blood-red rose petals, Rouge holds up a warped mirror to our relationship with mortality, our collective fixation with the surface, and the wondrous, deep longing that might lie beneath.

The imagery in this book alone was astounding. I loved the juxtaposition between light and dark. It's got elements of Snow White, Alice in Wonderland, Eyes Wide Shut, Sleeping Beauty and The Little Mermaid. It is dark and disturbing and just what I expect when reading Mona Awad. Funny, with social commentary on the price of beauty and aging. And actually very grounded and poignant. My favorite of the hers so far, and also her best yet.

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon&Shuster and Marysue Rucci Books for the advanced reader copy. The novel will be published Tuesday, September 12, 2023. Definitely hit that pre-order button. This one will stay with me for a while.

A re-envisioning of Snow White for the modern audience; Mona Awad tackles the familiar genre in her signature and one-of-a-kind style.

Belle has grown up in the shadow of her beautiful, old-Hollywood glamorous mother. Deeply insecure of her looks which more closely resemble her Egyptian father, Belle has a complicated relationship with mirrors and a deep obsession with skin care.

When Belle’s mother dies unexpectedly, she flies to California to take care of the estate and is lured into the mysterious spa her mother used to frequent.

But poison comes in the form of a red face cream jar, and things start to devolve as Belle accepts the free treatments and begins confronting repressed memories of euro-centric beauty standards, mother-envy and Tom Cruise (yes, you read that right).

Rouge offers commentary on the systemic racism within the beauty industry and the stories we consume. With dark humor, it pokes fun at the cult-like obsession with youth in Hollywood. It doesn’t shy away from confronting the complexities of multi-racial family dynamics. Awad has attempted to say a lot, and has said it all masterfully.

Awad’s writing in this one is steeped in visual, auditory and even olfactory descriptions. Color acts almost as its own character, as we see red, black and white reappear. The story perfectly propels itself, and Awad unrolls new information at just the right time.

I whole-heartedly endorse this one. Just be prepared, this fable will cause you to see things differently when you look into the looking glass.

absolute queen of the unhinged/unreliable female narrator with outstanding commentary on modern beauty standards & generational body dysmorphia

mona awad, the absolute queen that you are!
Rouge is another fever dream of an entry into her exquisite catalogue. there have been a few horror-tinged books based on the beauty industry recently, and it’s a subject i find very interesting and relatable in seeing its characters become obsessed with beauty standards. this combines Awad’s signature surrealist imagery with fairy tale motifs and a black sense of humor to create a truly unforgettable story.