Reviews

Rouge by Mona Awad

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halieghkai's review against another edition

3.0

"No one knows what's inside grief. Anything at all can be there."

Rogue is a captivating blend of magical realism and gothic critique on the beauty industry.

The story delves into the intricate dynamics of a mother-daughter relationship, presenting a poignant portrayal of how insecurities can be unconsciously inherited.

Mona Awad masterfully sheds light on the pressure to conform to Western beauty standards perpetuated by an industry that preys on vulnerabilities.

The allegorical representation of the industry through the Cold Ones, the Brightened Ones, and the Rose left a lasting impression, so much so that I'm now side-eyeing all of my skincare products.

Additionally, the nuanced depiction of grief adds depth to the protagonist's character.

Despite its strengths, certain aspects didn't quite meet my expectations...

• The pacing of the story:
I'm usually patient with story progression, but I find it frustrating when it becomes predictable. Right from the start, it's evident that the story focuses on critiquing the skincare beauty industry. This made me somewhat impatient when the protagonist, for example; listed all the beauty products used, resembling an unhealthy beauty tutorial. While this does emphasize
Mirabelle's insecurities, I sometimes wish that certain things were shown rather than told.

• Tom Cruise:
My goodness... I understand that the concept of the story is magical realism, but if I were to take a shot at the number of times Tom Cruise was mentioned in this story, I'd probably have alcohol poisoning. As I got halfway through the book, I began to question if I was reading fan fiction. It was very distracting to me.

• The Ending...
Maybe my reaction stems from my disdain for ambiguous endings, but I found the story's conclusion unsatisfying since it had an intriguing start.

Otherwise, I enjoyed this story for its atmospheric descriptions and metaphors that felt like a fever dream.

I rate this book a solid 3.5

kristinconnolly's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

This is a wild ride. It’s a story about the sinister side to beauty. If you have any body dysmorphia this book might be triggering. It really shows how the male gaze can impact women’s sense of self. I definitely didn’t think this was that much of a horror book it was definitely dark but not scary.