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A review by bookishraccoon
Rouge by Mona Awad
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I actually listened to the audiobook version of this book. Sophie Amoss did a fantastic job narrating this one! Normally I feel like these drone on, but her narration kept me invested.
I struggled through the book for a bit, but it picked up at the last 1/3 of the story.
Slow burn, but great build up- flashbacks throughout helped to create the depth of the story. Intentional pacing with great pay off. Interesting premise with the beauty industry being the villain, & I loved the points that could be taken from it.
The author captured the obsession, & desperation perfectly with being beautiful- & the harsh expectations the industry currently has on many women. And the crazy lengths many people will go to, along with amounts of money to achieve these looks - or having the ‘perfect’ skin. The treatments, serums, mists, lotions, cleansers… I wish this was something discussed about more, and the unattainable standards.
As somebody that used to struggle with their skin growing up, this novel spoke to me. With the feeling of desperately wanting to belong, & having that ‘glow’. I’m at a much healthier place now in my life, & looking back realizing it was a mix of hormones, genetics- things that I couldn’t control. But the beauty industry is cruel, & this novel captured that perfectly.
This book I would call a journey- filled with dark humor, sometimes difficult subjects, obsession, envy, & love. I think it’s a book people should at least experience once. With that said, the book isn’t by any means perfect.
The beginning was alittle difficult to get into, & the nonstop Tom cruise segments kinda ruined it for me (although I realize it was just supposed to be an ongoing joke). It was so much to the point that it strongly annoyed me at times (as I’m not the biggest fan of him honestly). I just didn’t understand the obsession, till I read up on the author - somebody that had a lot of admiration for him.
She loosely inspired the book from the movie Eyes Wide Open (which Tom Cruise stars in), so that made me understand it alittle more after the fact. At the time reading it though, it just took myself as the reader out of immersion. I think the story would’ve been stronger leaving that bit out honestly.
The pacing was strange at first bouncing back and forth between past & present. Once you get used to the time jumps it gets alittle easier to work yourself through.
Also, as some other reviews have discussed- there were some loose ends of the story never finished off. I always enjoyed movies & books open though- as it leaves it for the reader to figure out themselves, or have a thoughtful discussion with others.
I’m leaving this as a spoiler free review, but there were some really strong scenes in this book that made up for all of the bad in my opinion. There was some really strong gothic imagery, with a modern twist to it.
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with this one. At first I didn’t care much for it, but as the story went along it evolved. I would recommend this one to anyone on the fence!
I struggled through the book for a bit, but it picked up at the last 1/3 of the story.
Slow burn, but great build up- flashbacks throughout helped to create the depth of the story. Intentional pacing with great pay off. Interesting premise with the beauty industry being the villain, & I loved the points that could be taken from it.
The author captured the obsession, & desperation perfectly with being beautiful- & the harsh expectations the industry currently has on many women. And the crazy lengths many people will go to, along with amounts of money to achieve these looks - or having the ‘perfect’ skin. The treatments, serums, mists, lotions, cleansers… I wish this was something discussed about more, and the unattainable standards.
As somebody that used to struggle with their skin growing up, this novel spoke to me. With the feeling of desperately wanting to belong, & having that ‘glow’. I’m at a much healthier place now in my life, & looking back realizing it was a mix of hormones, genetics- things that I couldn’t control. But the beauty industry is cruel, & this novel captured that perfectly.
This book I would call a journey- filled with dark humor, sometimes difficult subjects, obsession, envy, & love. I think it’s a book people should at least experience once. With that said, the book isn’t by any means perfect.
The beginning was alittle difficult to get into, & the nonstop Tom cruise segments kinda ruined it for me (although I realize it was just supposed to be an ongoing joke). It was so much to the point that it strongly annoyed me at times (as I’m not the biggest fan of him honestly). I just didn’t understand the obsession, till I read up on the author - somebody that had a lot of admiration for him.
She loosely inspired the book from the movie Eyes Wide Open (which Tom Cruise stars in), so that made me understand it alittle more after the fact. At the time reading it though, it just took myself as the reader out of immersion. I think the story would’ve been stronger leaving that bit out honestly.
The pacing was strange at first bouncing back and forth between past & present. Once you get used to the time jumps it gets alittle easier to work yourself through.
Also, as some other reviews have discussed- there were some loose ends of the story never finished off. I always enjoyed movies & books open though- as it leaves it for the reader to figure out themselves, or have a thoughtful discussion with others.
I’m leaving this as a spoiler free review, but there were some really strong scenes in this book that made up for all of the bad in my opinion. There was some really strong gothic imagery, with a modern twist to it.
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with this one. At first I didn’t care much for it, but as the story went along it evolved. I would recommend this one to anyone on the fence!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Body horror