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 :)

Great story!

I truly enjoyed every minute of this audiobook and looked forward to listening to it!

A new favorite author

My second book this author and it did not disappoint. Growing up Estée Lauder was the most coveted of department store brands. I used her products and wore her BEAUTIFUL perfume for years. This was a captivating story and while it is fiction and told thru the eyes of a close friend it captured all the glamour and resilience of the times. I admire the grit and work ethic of women who strive to succeed in business and make their dreams come true.

Marvelous story

Captivating and inspiring story about tenacity and drive. Loved the book and couldn’t stop listening!

Loved It.

This was a great story. From beginning to end, I was fascinated by this story. I listen to it every chance I had even if for just a few minutes. Wonderful story about Estée Lauder as well as the main character. I loved how their lives intertwined with each other and reading about the cosmetic industry. The ending was unexpected as well - it made me smile. I highly recommend this book.

Very enjoyable

I loved everything about the story , historical fiction, voices of the readers. I want more

Perfection

Renee Rosen hit all the high and low spots of the main characters. Very believable and crisply written. No one wraps up a story better than Ms. Rosen. Narration was spot on. Looking forward to listening to it again.

Enjoyable & Engaging

A very engaging story about the start of the global brand. I finished it in 2-days as i listened whenever I could.