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devynreadsnovels's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Body shaming, Death of parent, Drug use, Dysphoria, Violence, Abandonment, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, and Murder
Minor: Cannibalism, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, and Emotional abuse
chasingpages1's review against another edition
- 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
3.25
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, and Body horror
Moderate: Animal death and Animal cruelty
rosierosereads's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gore, and Grief
andrewhatesham's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
3.75
Minor: Body shaming, Cultural appropriation, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Grief, Medical content, Alcohol, and Cursing
sarasreading's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, and Grief
Moderate: Abandonment
booksbeyondthebinary's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Racism, and Animal death
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, and Religious bigotry
dhritigupta's review against another edition
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
- the motifs and imagery
- the PROLOGUE
- mona awad’s incredibly clever word choices/word-play
- exploration of messy mother-daughter relationships and motherhood in general
- how she touched on the horrors of bipoc girlhood (though a bit triggering at times)
- unpacking how skincare reveres whiteness and the problems with how it’s marketed as self-care
- belle’s chaotic bisexuality
didn’t love:
- hud hudson
- how so many questions were left unanswered,,,like i do think some parts should be left a mystery, but i’d love some more clarity about noelle’s past, and i have soooo many questions abt the spa members
- the ending felt a little too neat
Graphic: Blood, Grief, and Gore
Moderate: Abandonment, Racism, Adult/minor relationship, and Death of parent
lovelymisanthrope's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"Rouge" follows a woman named Belle who is trying to work through her own insecurities about beauty, as well the recent death of her mother. Belle has always sought to be fairy tale beautiful, and she has the complicated skin routine to prove it. Her mother seemed to have an effortless glow about her that Belle was always envious of. After her sudden death, Belle returns to her mother's home to get her affairs in order, and stumbles upon the world of beauty that finally offers her the opportunity to reach her true beauty potential.
This book was weird, riveting, and sharp all in one. I think the commentary about the beauty industry and how fixated we as a society are on looks is spot on. Belle does not feel beautiful, and she is willing to spare no expense when it comes to buying any and all serums, lotions, or other fads to try to make herself beautiful. The transformative spa, La Maison de Méduse, is equal parts dark and beautiful. The promises the people at this spa make are outlandish, but for someone so desperate to be beautiful, their promises are tantalizing.
I felt like I did not know what was going on half of the time, and I loved every second of it. Watching Belle's descent into obsession and witnessing her loss of self was like watching a car wreck. I wanted to scream at Belle to step back and see what was going on, but this was a listen she had to learn on her own.
The ultimate reveal about what was going on was entirely entertaining. I did not anticipate how everything would play out and how Belle's story would come to a resolution, but I was very pleased with where the story ultimately went.
I am so excited that I loved this book so much, and I am looking forward to seeing what Mona Awad writes next.
Graphic: Body horror, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Body shaming, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Mental illness and Death of parent
_bailey_reads_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Even though I barely had any grasp of what what happening most of the time I could not put it down! It was gripping! I am sad it’s over!
Totally made me think of looking in a mirror in a whole new way!
Mona Awad highlights the perils of vanity to the max! I loved every second!
Graphic: Death of parent, Blood, and Body horror
Moderate: Death, Body shaming, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Adult/minor relationship, and Grief
aileron's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, and Death of parent
Moderate: Grief and Animal death
Minor: Racism, Religious bigotry, and Injury/Injury detail