Melissa ~ Bantering Books's Reviews > Rouge
Rouge
by
by
![33853154](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1669137927p2/33853154.jpg)
3.5 stars
“Mirror, mirror on the wall …”
Rouge has me all in a tizzy. I’m so conflicted over how to rate it.
The problem is that I wanted to love it more than I did. And my want-to-love-it is fighting to take control of my review.
Mona Awad's latest is my first foray into her writing: a dark, trippy fairy tale about a woman who loses her mother and then spirals down a dangerous path in search of youth and beauty. Reading very much like a fever dream, the story is filled with gorgeous red, white, and black imagery, and there are shades of Snow White and even Tom Cruise (but not really) in its pages.
Throughout the book, Awad fiercely attacks the beauty industry and the pressure it places on women to look younger and be our most beautiful selves. And she makes us question: how much are we willing to sacrifice in order to meet these unreasonable standards?
And Awad handles it so well. Her jabs hit the target, and she’s unapologetic while making them. But as I mentioned above, much of the narrative is written as a surreal, druggy dream, and what happens inside of these dreams isn’t always interesting. Parts feel repetitive and I was bored at times, even though I wanted not to be, more than anything.
I was also looking for a more intricate and nuanced approach to the story and its themes. By the last chapter, Awad spells most everything out, what happens and why, and there isn't much left for us to piece together on our own.
The ending is killer, though. Even without the depth and complexity I craved, if Awad had given us more of what's in the last 50 pages – emotion, horror, and thrills – then I wouldn’t be stuck on a 3.5 star rating.
My sincerest appreciation to Mona Awad, S&S/Marysue Rucci Books, and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions included herein are my own.
“Mirror, mirror on the wall …”
Rouge has me all in a tizzy. I’m so conflicted over how to rate it.
The problem is that I wanted to love it more than I did. And my want-to-love-it is fighting to take control of my review.
Mona Awad's latest is my first foray into her writing: a dark, trippy fairy tale about a woman who loses her mother and then spirals down a dangerous path in search of youth and beauty. Reading very much like a fever dream, the story is filled with gorgeous red, white, and black imagery, and there are shades of Snow White and even Tom Cruise (but not really) in its pages.
Throughout the book, Awad fiercely attacks the beauty industry and the pressure it places on women to look younger and be our most beautiful selves. And she makes us question: how much are we willing to sacrifice in order to meet these unreasonable standards?
And Awad handles it so well. Her jabs hit the target, and she’s unapologetic while making them. But as I mentioned above, much of the narrative is written as a surreal, druggy dream, and what happens inside of these dreams isn’t always interesting. Parts feel repetitive and I was bored at times, even though I wanted not to be, more than anything.
I was also looking for a more intricate and nuanced approach to the story and its themes. By the last chapter, Awad spells most everything out, what happens and why, and there isn't much left for us to piece together on our own.
The ending is killer, though. Even without the depth and complexity I craved, if Awad had given us more of what's in the last 50 pages – emotion, horror, and thrills – then I wouldn’t be stuck on a 3.5 star rating.
My sincerest appreciation to Mona Awad, S&S/Marysue Rucci Books, and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions included herein are my own.
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Reading Progress
February 19, 2023
– Shelved
February 19, 2023
– Shelved as:
to-read
April 21, 2023
– Shelved as:
netgalley-arc
April 21, 2023
– Shelved as:
on-my-kindle
August 30, 2023
–
Started Reading
September 10, 2023
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 58 (58 new)
message 1:
by
Fran
(new)
Sep 02, 2023 10:34AM
![Fran](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1473715052p1/12653120.jpg)
reply
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![Linda](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1336837712p1/9472704.jpg)
![Michelle](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1725026193p1/53328737.jpg)
![Melissa Crytzer Fry](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1581696407p1/3857699.jpg)
![JaymeO](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1389405773p1/16061946.jpg)
![Meredith (Trying to catch up!)](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1423329725p1/30978160.jpg)
![Cassie](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1712432150p1/1453376.jpg)
![Melissa ~ Bantering Books](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1669137927p1/33853154.jpg)
Thanks, Linda! Oh, I hope you still read it, though. You may love it ... so many others have. :)
![Melissa ~ Bantering Books](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1669137927p1/33853154.jpg)
So true, Holly. At least it had a terrific ending. Thank you! :)
![Melissa ~ Bantering Books](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1669137927p1/33853154.jpg)
Thanks, Michelle! I'd still give it a go. There's a lot to love about the book, and a lot of reviewers have rated it five stars. :)
![Melissa ~ Bantering Books](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1669137927p1/33853154.jpg)
Thank you very much, Melissa! I think my want-to-love-it is still mad at me for writing my review. Lol.
![Melissa ~ Bantering Books](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1669137927p1/33853154.jpg)
I feel your pain, Melcat. Please still read it, though. You may love it. :)
![Melissa ~ Bantering Books](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1669137927p1/33853154.jpg)
Many thanks, Tara! I appreciate it. :)
![Margaret M - (too far behind to catch up although trying to spend more time on GR)](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1645658172p1/137111152.jpg)
![Melissa ~ Bantering Books](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1669137927p1/33853154.jpg)
Thanks, Jayme! I hope you read it and have better luck with it. :)
![Melissa ~ Bantering Books](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1669137927p1/33853154.jpg)
It sure does, Kendall. Thank you! :)
![Melissa ~ Bantering Books](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1669137927p1/33853154.jpg)
I hope you do give it a try, Meredith. Others have absolutely loved it. :)
![Melissa ~ Bantering Books](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1669137927p1/33853154.jpg)
Thanks, Christina! I do, too. It's such a bummer. :)
![Melissa ~ Bantering Books](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1669137927p1/33853154.jpg)
Thank you very much, Cassie! I'm sad I didn't love it, too. :)
![Cynthia](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1542841773p1/10560051.jpg)
![Melissa ~ Bantering Books](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1669137927p1/33853154.jpg)
Thank you, Margaret! :)
![Melissa ~ Bantering Books](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1669137927p1/33853154.jpg)
Very true, Jen! Thank you. :)
![Barbara](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1562849303p1/11701608.jpg)
![Kat](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1720224311p1/105191338.jpg)
![Melissa ~ Bantering Books](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1669137927p1/33853154.jpg)
Thanks for the recommendation, Cynthia. I'm in luck because I already own a copy of "Natural Beauty." I'll be sure to make time for it, especially if it's better than "Rouge." :)