Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl

By: Renée Rosen

Narrated by: Hillary Huber

It’s 1938, and a young woman selling face cream out of a New York City beauty parlor is determined to prove she can have it all. Her name is Estée Lauder, and she’s about to take the world by storm, in this dazzling new novel from the USA Today bestselling author of The Social Graces and Park Avenue Summer.

In New York City, you can disappear into the crowd. At least that’s what Gloria Downing desperately hopes as she tries to reinvent herself after a devastating family scandal. She’s ready for a total life makeover and a friend she can lean on—and into her path walks a young, idealistic woman named Estée. Their chance encounter will change Gloria’s life forever.

Estée dreams of success and becoming a household name like Elizabeth Arden, Helena Rubinstein, and Revlon. Before Gloria knows it, she is swept up in her new friend’s mission and while Estée rolls up her sleeves, Gloria begins to discover her own talents. After landing a job at Saks Fifth Avenue, New York’s finest luxury department store, Gloria finds her voice, which proves instrumental in opening doors for Estée’s insatiable ambitions.

But in a world unaccustomed to women with power, they’ll each have to pay the price that comes with daring to live life on their own terms and refusing to back down.

©2023 Renée Rosen (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"In this captivating novel, Renée Rosen invites readers to peer behind the lovely facade of the iconic Estee Lauder, at her real origin and hardscrabble rise. This illuminating tale about ambition and friendship between Estee and Gloria Downing, another young woman who has changed her name and her identity, explores the dangers inherent in embellishing the truth. A fascinating glimpse into a legend who has changed the face of cosmetics forever.”—Marie Benedict, New York Times bestselling author of The Personal Librarian and The Mitford Affair

"A scintillating, beautifully written peek into the life of one of America’s most fascinating women, Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl is an ode to the singular magic of chasing and catching one’s wildest dreams. Through Renee Rosen’s well-trained pen, Estée Lauder returns, living and breathing on every page. Rosen is at the height of her storytelling prowess with this glittering novel that shines as brightly as the heroine at its center. I absolutely could not put it down."—Kristy Woodson Harvey, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Wedding Veil

“A dazzling story of the beauty of female friendship and the dogged persistence of a cosmetics legend who knew that she—and the women around her—were meant for more… Estée Lauder was a force to be reckoned with and her ambition and drive leap off the page in Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl!”—Stephanie Marie Thornton, USA Today bestselling author of A Most Clever Girl

Girls with é for the win!

In true Renée Rosen fashion, Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl, about cosmetics queen, Estée Lauder, is another historical fiction winner.

Two empowered women

The life of two empowered women in NYC in the 1940s could had been sad but this book brings a story of effort to achieve success with perseverance and glamour.
I enjoyed the day to day stories and the way to tell Estée Lauder’s story from a friend point of view!!!

Great story!

Love this story, very interesting and well read by the narrator! Wish I could listen again for the first time :)

Fantastic book!!

I read/listen to about three books a week. This book was fantastic. Character development was spot on. The narrators tone was perfect. And the detail that the author took on every aspect of the novel was fantastic and I love to hear the take on how this beauty legend came to be.Loved it!!!

i wasn't expecting to enjoy as much as i did

read this for bookclub and everyone seemed surprised by how much they enjoyed it. Gloria and Estee's friendship was the true star of this book. Really cool to see the start of the fasion and beauty world as we know it today.

History of the Cosmetic’s Industry

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I’ve always been a fan of Estée Lauder products, but had no idea of how the line started.

Lots of fun

I loved this book. If you were lucky enough to know New York City in the 70s or earlier, this book will bring back a lot of memories. Department stores on Fifth Avenue were an adventure for anyone from outside NYC. Before the big stores had outlets around the country they were truly unique. As a broke young 20 something I well remember wandering through them as one would a museum.

Rene Rosen is a favorite author. I'm delighted I bought this one.

Fun Read

I thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved her characters and the happy ending. It's a great audible to listen to. Rene sucks you in.

Entertaining listen

This book was a nice fluff story and about a real person to boot! I enjoyed it as it made for a nice escape read. If you like women who work and juggle life mixed with cosmetics, glamour, and a bit of romance - this is for you.

Loved it!

I loved this book. I had no idea of Estée Lauder’s beginnings so I found this very interesting. No loved the best friend relationship with her best friend and all the things that happened over the years. Estée sure made it look easy to get to where she did, but this book confirmed she was a hard worker and it wasn’t handed on a silver platter.