vixenreader 's review for:

Rouge by Mona Awad

4.25

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Obvious metaphors aside, this novel explores the envy and self-loathing that can estrange mothers and daughters, how we can lose our identities for the facade of perfection, and how toxic traits die hard. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Dementia, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Cursing, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting

Minor: Racism, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry

Be aware that this novel features poisoning someone who an allergy, dysfunctional mother-daughter relationships, envy and jealous, obsession with youth and beauty, toxic beauty standards, an adult figure manipulating a young girl, vampirism of the mind, and an evil Tom Cruise.