Many thanks to my friends at @bookclubfriends @marysuerucci and @simon.audio for the #gifted copies of this book.  

 

Weirdly brilliant?  Brilliantly weird?  

 

Apparently, I can be totally confused by what I’m reading and yet also fully captivated.  

 

This was a fever dream of a tale.  An utterly strange and chaotic journey.  And yet, I couldn’t look away.

 

The mix of reality and illusion, horror and speculation are adeptly executed.  I constantly questioned what was happening and what to believe.  Yet it all worked together in an inexplicable way, even in utilized some of the most bizarre plot points (Tom Cruise, mannequins, jellyfish).

 

Dark humor is expertly mixed with bold commentary on the beauty industry. It’s incisive and thought-provoking.

 

There’s also an exploration of the complexities of mother/daughter relationships and the power of grief to overwhelm.  

 

Awad is known for her unique and quirky style, and that is evident in Rouge.  This is the first I’ve read by her, and I’m utterly intrigued.  

 

🎧 The audiobook, well narrated by Sophie Amoss, immediately drew me in.  BUT.  The flashbacks to Mirabelle’s childhood are not noted.  This added to my overall confusion.  As such, I found it necessary to partner the audio with the physical book. 

 

*Many thanks to my buddy, @thats.one.for.the.books, for keeping me on track and answering all  my questions.