Rouge by Mona Awad

Author: Mona Awad 

Title: Rouge 

Publisher: Scribner

Published: 2023

Pages: 384

Genre: Horror / Thriller 

     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 Meduse, 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.

     I was recently on holiday up north and whilst wandering the old streets of Whitby I came across an amazing bookstore. Complete with a spiral staircase and a very well-stocked selection. Amongst the amazing window display, this book was perched as the last thing you saw before going in. Its distinctive cover grabbed my eye, how could it not. Deep red and black most definitely stand out amongst the current trend in covers. It also reminded me of horror movie posters from the seventies, a genre of film I am very familiar with and wish would come back around. So I grabbed a copy and flipped it over to see what it was all about. Now whilst it didn't sound like something I would entirely usually read I am trying to push myself to go into areas I'm not so familiar with and sometimes you just have to take a leap of faith and see where it takes you to. After all, you never know just which rabbit whole will be the right size for you to go tumbling down head over heels

     When we first meet Belle she seems to be someone set in her routine. Nothing is going to break her out of it. It is definitely verging on worrying, her daily rejuvenating routine as listed in detail, slightly reminds me of Patrick Bateman and his obsession with his own personal skincare. As she recites to us each of the products and how they are supposed to help. But I suppose all you have to do is catch a makeup ad on TV to get blassed by this sort of information. But with the unexpected death of her mother Belle is about to take the search for eternal beauty to a whole new level. We can feel Belle as she slips away from the solid world and into the depths of some strange other world place. Here we find ourselves in the company of some very strange and unusual characters. There is the feel of those old psychedelic technical horror films with a heavy dose of Old-school Gothic horror. I loved this blending she has created here something that feels like an old memory and yet at the same time a breath of fresh air into this world. We are transported along with Belle into a world where we should question everything but are told it is all fine and everything is good. She passes through the world as if wrapped in cotton wool and the forever haze is in fact perfect bliss. For after all only beauty truly matters right? 

     As I've written about before horror is one of those genres that works especially well at talking about the ills of the world and the times we find ourselves in without having to go at it head-on. And it is quite obvious to anyone that this book points its aim directly at the beauty industry. How their ever-shifting stands can never really be achieved and now ever more so with digital tweaks and brushing you are entering into a losing game. But even so many still chance that elusive fountain of youth. So when offered treatments that ensure you this why not jump in head first.  We have all been conditioned to accept these things without ever asking what is in them or what they are doing to us. It is a very insidious thing when you come to think of it. Surely growing old is a luxury we should be grateful for rather than one we fight tooth and nail. But this is always easier said than done and we are all human after all. 

     It astounds me just how Awad has crafted her narrative. Yes we have those elements of horror and thriller. But she has also made it feel so seductive, as Belle is pulled into this world so are we. After all who doesn't want to peek behind the velvet curtain to see how the rich and powerful live. We like to have snapshots into the dark place that we fear to tread and here she has mixed all these things so well. It is probably bar far one of my favorite books of the year and of course, has earned a place on my over-shelf. It is one of those books that you can't help would feel would make an amazing film or show if tackled by just the right director. like those sleek and captivating European shows of the last few years. And you know the soundtrack would heavily rely on Lana Del Ray.