Reviews

i liked this one a lot more than bunny. i think that this book tried to do less than bunny did, and had a way clearer aesthetic. I thought the writing was good, especially in the prelogue where Awad takes on the second-person POV. I personally think that she could have written the whole book using this, but alas.
As with Bunny, i found the first part vaguely boring and the main character kinda annoying. But the more the story gets into fever dream territory, the better it gets (for me). Its almost gruesome, seductive and creepy. I really liked this. I found myself wanting Belle to go further into the Depths of La Maison de Meduse, just to see what was going to happen. Unlike Bunny, the narative doesn’t disgard the happenings of the book as not fully real.
Also, i just really love the word Rouge.
The mother was super intriguing, i would have loved to know more about her. I didn’t really care about any other side characters.
All in all, i need to start wearing dark red.

kleighmclain's review against another edition

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mysterious reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

I wanted so badly so like this book. I went into it very excited. I had heard great things about the author and their previous works. The premise sounded very interesting and like something I would enjoy. Once I started reading it, I could not have cared less about anything that happened. I’m not sure I’ve ever felt this bored while reading. I felt mostly confused the entire book and I didn’t care enough to take the time to understand. I’m so glad I borrowed it from the library rather than waste my money. I don’t know what was going on with Tom Cruise coming out of a mirror, talking mannequins, and somewhat sentient jellyfish. Someone better than me may love this book but I did not. The more I think about it the more I hate it for wasting my time. I had such high hopes for the concept but was let down.

yaytay's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

stlkatiek's review against another edition

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dark slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I'm not sure I was the right reader for this book. I liked the premise and the writing was brilliant at times, but in general it was just too overdone: chapters went for too long, writing at times was too pretentious, and certain aspects were too repetitive.

Read it because:
Spooky season horror read

rachelanngloria's review against another edition

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3.0

3 stars. reading this felt like observing an inside joke i wasn’t privy to. i felt many ups and downs. there were times where i couldn’t put it down and others where i didn’t want to pick it up. i wasn’t expecting Rouge to be another Bunny but i was hoping to enjoy it as much as i enjoyed Bunny.

Merged review:

3 stars. reading this felt like observing an inside joke i wasn’t privy to. i felt many ups and downs. there were times where i couldn’t put it down and others where i didn’t want to pick it up. i wasn’t expecting Rouge to be another Bunny but i was hoping to enjoy it as much as i enjoyed Bunny.

Merged review:

3 stars. reading this felt like observing an inside joke i wasn’t privy to. i felt many ups and downs. there were times where i couldn’t put it down and others where i didn’t want to pick it up. i wasn’t expecting Rouge to be another Bunny but i was hoping to enjoy it as much as i enjoyed Bunny.

Merged review:

3 stars. reading this felt like observing an inside joke i wasn’t privy to. i felt many ups and downs. there were times where i couldn’t put it down and others where i didn’t want to pick it up. i wasn’t expecting Rouge to be another Bunny but i was hoping to enjoy it as much as i enjoyed Bunny.

kelseamae's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Rouge has me in a bit of a state. I simply don't know where to begin.
I've spent the last week telling anyone and everyone about this book; its seductive imagery, the way of the roses, how happy I am to be back reading Awad's prose, and how boggled I am by its plot.
The beauty industry is definitely being confronted head-on in Rouge, as well as whiteness theory, with a focus on Mirabelle's ethnicity as a child of dual heritage (Egyptian father, white mother) mirroring that of Award's own background.
I'm desperate to say that I loved this book, but I don't think I can...
The middle hundred-odd pages are muddied and repetitive, and it wasn't until

Mother came alive in Belle's reflection and we become privy to young Belle's mission to poison her mother to please Tom Cruise/Seth

that I truly locked in. I completely understand why I've seen some reviewers DNF this book. Tad...eh, could we have done without him? I think so. I'd have liked to have seen more of Hud as the two sank deeper into Rouge.

Some highlights:

I'm a sucker for magical realism. I just love the strangeness of it all. I probably whispered 'what the fuck?' every few pages.
Everyone's favourite quote: "The only journey that matters in the end, Daughter of Noelle." "Retinol?" I whisper. "The soul. The journey of the soul, of course."
The fucking jellyfish. I don't know what it was about these suckers, but I'm obsessed with the visual of entranced faces pressed against the aquarium glass, looking at each other's contorted faces through these compelling pulsating jellies.

I'm giving it a 4, even though it probably sits more at a 3.75, simply because this is my review and the image of Belle and Hud slow dancing across the sand will stick with me for a while.

5ra's review against another edition

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1.75

Žali bože vremena i 10 eura kojih sam potrošila na ovu knjigu

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