A review by emreads56
Rouge by Mona Awad

dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I respect that not everyone is going to like the turn this book takes, but it reminded me a lot of the video game Gris. When grieving the loss of a hard relationship with a parent, it is never easy. Awad does a great job of talking through those difficult emotions. Where our parents tried (and failed) to love us, how the beauty industry can bank on our insecurities, and how disconnected from the world we can become when absorbed by grief and envy.
I really only took .25 star off for the end being a little on the nose with the explanations, but maybe that was just me being used to Awad's writing. I found the references pretty clear as it went. But it was still nice to see Mirabelle understand the reality after the feverdream

My three fav quotes:
 

•  “If she did ask, I would say it was grief. The deepest grief. I know she would accept that as an answer. No one knows what’s inside grief. Anything at all can be there.” 

•  “Didn't you envy? Didn't you want? A mirror is only a mirror, Belle. It only ever reflects back what we desire and long for” 

•   “Without the sun, what’s the moon? Just a rock in the outer dark. Its illumination just a trick. Just a trick from the sun’s light, which it steals. And that’s what Beauty is too.”