Rouge

A Novel

By: Mona Awad

Narrated by: Sophie Amoss

Length: 14 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

A National Bestseller
A USA TODAY Bestseller
A New York Times Editors’ Choice
A Goodreads Choice Award Finalist
Named a Best Book of the Year by The Washington Post, Good Housekeeping, Electric Literature, Tor, and Literary Hub

From the critically acclaimed author of Bunny comes a “Grimm Brothers fairy tale for the modern age” (Good Housekeeping) and “darkly funny horror novel” (NYLON) about a lonely young woman who’s drawn to a cult-like spa in the wake of her mother’s mysterious death. “Surreal, scary and deeply moving—like all the best fairy tales” (People).

A Most Anticipated Book of 2023 by Time, Vogue, The Guardian, Goodreads, Bustle, The Millions, LitHub, Tor, Good Housekeeping, and more!

For as long as she can remember, Belle has been insidiously obsessed with her skin and skincare videos. When her estranged mother Noelle mysteriously dies, Belle finds herself back in Southern California, dealing with her mother’s considerable debts and grappling with lingering questions about her death. The stakes escalate when a strange woman in red appears at the funeral, offering a tantalizing clue about her mother’s demise, followed by a cryptic video about a transformative spa experience. With the help of a pair of red shoes, Belle is lured into the barbed embrace of La Maison de Méduse, the same lavish, culty spa to which her mother was devoted. There, Belle discovers the frightening secret behind her (and her mother’s) obsession with the mirror—and the great shimmering depths (and demons) that lurk on the other side of the glass.

Snow White meets Eyes Wide Shut in this surreal descent into the dark side of beauty, envy, grief, and the complicated love between mothers and daughters. With black humor and seductive horror, Rouge explores the cult-like nature of the beauty industry—as well as the danger of internalizing its pitiless gaze. Brimming with California sunshine and blood-red rose petals, Rouge holds up a warped mirror to our relationship with mortality, our collective fixation with the surface, and the wondrous, deep longing that might lie beneath.

©2023 Mona Awad (P)2023 Simon & Schuster Audio

Critic reviews

"In a dreamy and mesmerizing delivery, Sophie Amoss describes how Belle detests her Egyptian complexion, inherited from her father. All her life she's been in the shadow of her French mother's flawless beauty and obsessive hunt for youth.... Amoss does a remarkable job escorting listeners through Belle's bizarre metamorphosis as she falls prey to the very spa trance experienced by her mother. Amoss transfixes listeners with her delivery of the escalating horror as Belle shifts from normalcy to a frightening shell of her former self. Who can save her? Amoss masterfully delivers French phrases, adding charm to a gripping listening experience." (AudioFile)

What a fun romp!

I understood that in her newest novel ,“Rouge”, Mona Awad pokes fun at the beauty industry. As a woman who has, through the years, spent an ungodly amount of money on cosmetics, who currently has 3 different serums, who has heard about the beauty property of snail slime, who has bought the Kool aide that sea algae is the way to go, and don’t get me started on collagen….yes, I needed that smack upside my head. “Rouge” explores the insanity and cult-like nature of beauty industry. Awad found the perfect narrator in Belle who realizes the craziness of the beauty regiment (yes it a war) yet cannot bring herself to say no. There are many Belles out there.

“Rouge” opens with Belle learning that her mother, Noelle, has died. She hasn’t seen her mother in a long time, but her memories of her mother involve skin care routines and fashion obsessions. Belle flies to California to settle her mother’s estate. Once there, she learns that her mother sold her dress shop and was in deep financial debt. On what did she spend her money? Why is she so in debt?

I listened to the audio narrated perfectly by Sophia Amoss. Noelle is French and Amoss switches seamlessly from a French accented English to “California-accented” English. The beginning of the story is hysterical. Belle starts speaking those “Freudian slips” when she arrives at her mother’s apartment. She awakes and begins her morning ridicule, I mean ritual. She sits at the insanity, I mean vanity. A Spa contacts her and she ponders their usual severings, I mean services. It’s clever.

Awad examines at what price beauty. Beauty relies on insecurity, and Belle, as a grieving daughter is the perfect mark.

My complaint is that it is far too lengthy. It becomes some gothic-type tale that goes far to OTT for me. It’s nearly a 15-hour audio, and I got frustrated midway through. It seemed not to be progressing with the story. And then it got very ridiculous and I wanted to stop, but I was already 9 hours invested!

Do I recommend? Yes, borrow, don’t buy. The beginning is worth getting the book or listening to the audio. It is fun and witty. Did it accomplish that smack upside my head? Yes it did, although I most likely will always be concerned about my skin texture 🤣 Sadly it ventured far too “Alice in Wonderland” down the rabbit hole for me.

Beautiful imagery

Really creative and imaginative, beautiful imagery. All about the pain and desire for beauty, not everyone would relate but I did.

I have another by her as a current favorite

And this one is my current favorite based on her ability to story tell, drum up fantastic beautiful while still very haunting and terrifying imagery.

Awad never disappoints

Another tragically beautiful fever dream by Mona Awad. Rouge, like Bunny and Alls Well twists reality all around itself through the eyes of the main character, Belle. I loved this story. I felt a visceral connection to the characters in this story much more so than any other Awad novel. Maybe because I am a mother to daughters as well as being the only child of my mothers. Whatever the reason I felt emotionally affected by this story. 5 stars all around.

Very captivating

I chose this book on a whim and had no prior knowledge of the plot. I thought the story was very interesting and it caught my attention throughout the entire book. I did find it funny how many time the mention a certain celebrity’s name, at some point I was concerned about it lol but overall very interesting, nothing I’ve read before and the narrator was really great.

The weirdness of the situation and the societal commentary on beauty age and mother/daughter dynamics

The characters were strangely vibrant and the story was unique and had plenty of twists to keep interest and engaged

Well, that was fun

I listened to All's Well by Mona Award and read by Sophie Amoss. Sophie is the perfect person to read Mona's work, IMO. That book (All's Well) left me a bit confused but now I see that's the author's style. Just a bunch of fantasy thrown into real-life situation. Sort of. So once I accepted that, I could buckle in and enjoy the ride. A bit long and rambling at times but I didn't mind since I churn through these books pretty quickly and it's nice to have one hang around for a bit.

Good story, poor execution

let me just say first that the narrator of this novel was amazing! I think she's the only reason I kept listening to this book. the story had amazing potential however this is not a well-written book. the author repeats herself so many times that I found myself rolling my eyes that's some of the descriptions. how many times in one chapter can you describe a broken mirror is falling snow? it's like it either wasn't edited or the editor fell asleep while reading it.

not bad

The narrator was really good, but it did take me a bit to finish this one. I really liked Bunny and think it was better, but this one might take the cake for weirder. I am glad I gave it a listen, it made me glad I have never gave a hoot about my skin other than a good face wash and some lotion on the dry days.

Too long and repetitive.

This book made me feel annoyed and impatient. The story dragged. I almost quit the book, but decided to just skip a little of it and get yo the end. The performance was great! The French accent was especially enjoyable.