Rouge: A Novel

**ge"** by Mona Awad is a haunting and surreal exploration of obsession, beauty, and the complexities of mother-daughter relationships set against the glitzy backdrop of Southern California. The story follows Belle, a young woman whose life is overshadowed by her fixation on skincare and the pursuit of perfection. After her estranged mother, Noelle, passes away under mysterious circumstances, Belle returns home to face her mother’s debts and unearth the truths surrounding her death.The narrative takes a dark turn when a strange woman in red appears at the funeral, leading Belle to the exclusive and cult-like spa, La Maison de Méduse, where her mother once sought refuge. As Belle navigates this seductive and treacherous world, she confronts the sinister secrets that entangle her and her mother within the beauty industry’s merciless grip. With elements reminiscent of "Snow White" and "Eyes Wide Shut," Awad seamlessly blends black humor and eerie horror to critique society's obsession with appearance and the lengths individuals go to escape the painful realities of life. **"Rouge"** offers a thought-provoking and visually rich narrative that examines the fragile boundaries between desire, identity, and the darker aspects of human nature, making it a compelling read for those intrigued by the intersections of beauty and horror.

What a fantastic book - part satire, part exploration of a complex mother-daughter relationship. Beautifully written. Didn't want it to end.

So I’m not usually a horror reader but I’m trying to branch out. The writing in this book is superb and I loved the allegory. I will definitely be reading Bunny by the same author. I’m genuinely surprised with how much I enjoyed this one.

Wow! What a weird, wild, twisted ride this was. This is one of those books that you read and then need time to process afterwards to figure out what the hell you just read. LOLThe writing style is so unique in a way that really adds to the creepy depths of the story. Reading this is like a fever dream. It’s dark and haunting. With a highly-unreliable narrator, you never know what to expect, what is real and what is a nightmare come to life. It has all the vibes of a dangerous Grimm fairytale.It shows the dark and toxic sides of beauty standards as well as the effects that body image can have on our mental and physical health. How far is too far? The lengths that society can go to feel beautiful. It has a tumultuous and complex mother-daughter relationship.This was my first Mona Awad. It is definitely not for the faint of heart. It was not a quick read for me, but the more I reflect back on what I read, the more I really liked it. I will definitely be reading from this author again. Highly recommend!

I’m normally not much of a reader, but when I do, I enjoy science, fiction, or, books, that sort of stretch reality, and this book was perfect. It really kept my attention, and I read it in no time! Very good read! I recommend it to all my friends.

Wish the ending tied up all the loose ends and questions I had throughout the book. Disappointed I was left with questions. Interesting concept and characters, just wish there was more.

Well, no one writes like Mona. She has a gift. Not for everyone. Likely disturbed. I think she’d agree. Rouge.

At first, this book reads like a dark and moody David Lynch film with some of the witchy plot-points of Suspiria (1977), and all of the atmosphere and magic of any movie directed by Panos Cosmatos (think Mandy, with abstract and dazzling visuals, and retro-horror moments). I liked this for the imaginative feast, and the tradition of body-horror cinema it easily brings to mind.It fell short in some areas by gratuitously building up characters (as well as perhaps not selectively fleshing out the right characters in the right areas), and by the inclusion of distracting details and dead-end plot points. If anything, this book attempted to include too much on the level of sideline details and visual tropes. Overall, an enjoyable read that dives into contemporary beauty regimens (lifestyles), inter-generational female relationships and mental health, all wrapped in a mysterious and gothic narrative.

I personally love Mona Awads style of writing and was excited to read something as creepy as "Bunny", but was sort of let down by this book. The general idea is really good, but I felt like it was missing something and could have been a bit creepier, just to keep you interested. In my opinion there were some loose ends and not enough depth to the characters that weren't the MC.

Wow! Just wow. Mona Awad’s novels are exquisite. I could not put this one down. I’m holding my breath for the next one.

I enjoyed this story a lot, the intrigue and the way Awad controlled my opinions of the characters was fun. The exposition of the backstory was well paced and while it didn't reach a creschendo of tension, the story arc was engaging throughout.