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A review by danadoesbooks
A Beautiful Rival by Gill Paul
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Thank you, BiblioLifestyle and William Morrow for the gifted copy of A Beautiful Rival! All opinions in this review are my own.
Right from the start, the rivalry between Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubinstein can be described as toxic. Arden is threatened by Rubinstein bringing her business to the United States and will stop at nothing to deter her rival. Rubinstein then counters with schemes of her own to get her own footing in the American market. As the story progresses, the hardships that both women face unfold and it is admirable that two women were able to open successful international businesses during this time. They both must face the societal pressures of marriage and the role of women. Overall, the author wrote an engrossing novel about two women who have so much in common but are determined to be set so far apart.
Right from the start, the rivalry between Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubinstein can be described as toxic. Arden is threatened by Rubinstein bringing her business to the United States and will stop at nothing to deter her rival. Rubinstein then counters with schemes of her own to get her own footing in the American market. As the story progresses, the hardships that both women face unfold and it is admirable that two women were able to open successful international businesses during this time. They both must face the societal pressures of marriage and the role of women. Overall, the author wrote an engrossing novel about two women who have so much in common but are determined to be set so far apart.