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sarasreading's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- 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
I love how Mona Awad crafts such complex themes and narratives, weaving many ideas and nuance into an ABSOLUTELY unhinged wild ride of a book. I devoured this (pun intended).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Grief, Death of parent, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Abandonment
booksbeyondthebinary's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, and Racism
Minor: Domestic abuse, Religious bigotry, and Injury/Injury detail
dhritigupta's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
what i loved:
- 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
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Blood, and Grief
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Racism, Death of parent, and Abandonment
lovelymisanthrope's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
As a fan of Mona Awad's previous work, I was excited to pick up this latest book.
"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.
"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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Sexism, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Mental illness and Death of parent
_bailey_reads_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- 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
This book was mind-bending, bone chilling, and the perfect level of creep for someone just getting into horror.
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!
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!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, and Grief
aileron's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Animal death and Grief
Minor: Racism, Religious bigotry, and Injury/Injury detail
jediprincess's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- 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
Mirabelle, — a half-Egyptian, half-French Canadian, dress shopkeeper in Montreal, obsessed with her skin-care routine — returns to her mother’s home in California for her funeral. There she is drawn into a mysterious, elite spa where her mother seems to have been a member in her final months.
This took me a long time to read. I think that I wasn’t sure where the story was going and couldn’t see the vision on how it was to become a horror, but once I did, wow! The descent into Mirabelle’s involvement with the spa crept up on me and each chapter had me more and more invested. The horror elements of Rouge are spectacular, I was so uncomfortable as I continued reading.
Rouge is ultimately a story of grief surrounding the mother-daughter relationship. Mirabelle’s past and present intertwine to showcase the impossible beauty standards pressed upon young girls, how white supremacy shows itself in the beauty industry (and from your own family), desire, envy, and obsession (it wouldn’t be a Mona Awad novel without those three!) to create a surreal horror that was captivating to read!
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This took me a long time to read. I think that I wasn’t sure where the story was going and couldn’t see the vision on how it was to become a horror, but once I did, wow! The descent into Mirabelle’s involvement with the spa crept up on me and each chapter had me more and more invested. The horror elements of Rouge are spectacular, I was so uncomfortable as I continued reading.
Rouge is ultimately a story of grief surrounding the mother-daughter relationship. Mirabelle’s past and present intertwine to showcase the impossible beauty standards pressed upon young girls, how white supremacy shows itself in the beauty industry (and from your own family), desire, envy, and obsession (it wouldn’t be a Mona Awad novel without those three!) to create a surreal horror that was captivating to read!
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Racism
orla_h's review
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Grief, and Gaslighting
Minor: Racism and Religious bigotry
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