Rouge by Richard Kirshenbaum

☆☆☆☆
ebook, 320 pages
Published June 25th 2019 by St. Martin's Press
About the Book:
Rouge is a sexy, glamorous journey into the rivalry of the pioneers of powder, mascara and rouge. This fast-paced novel examines the lives, loves, and sacrifices of the visionaries who invented the modern cosmetics industry: Josiah Herzenstein, born in a Polish Jewish Shtlel, the entrepreneur who transforms herself into a global style icon and the richest woman in the world, Josephine Herz; Constance Gardiner, her rival, the ultimate society woman who invents the door-to-door business and its female workforce but whose deepest secret threatens everything; CeeCee Lopez, the bi-racial beauty and founder of the first African American woman’s hair relaxer business, who overcomes prejudice and heartbreak to become her community’s first female millionaire. The cast of characters is rounded out by Mickey Heron, a dashing, sexy ladies' man whose cosmetics business is founded in a Hollywood brothel. All are bound in a struggle to be number one, doing anything to get there…including murder.

Once in awhile you come across a blurb that you just know you have to experience for yourself. You pick up a book and you just instantly connect. Not because of the characters or even the setting but just because it is simply written so well that you immediately get sucked into the very story itself and then before you know it, you are done. I fell in love with the characters, the setting, with it all.

Rouge is an exceptional read that not only took me by surprise but took my breath away. I absolutely devoured it and adored it and just couldn't get enough of it. It is so immersing, so well voiced and truly something I can't recommend enough. This is my favourite kind of historical fiction, one with a bit of cattiness. I loved reading about the stars and the fashion of the time and oh those descriptions of the jewels!

A wonderfully insightful look into women in the work place in a time where we weren't quite accepted yet and had to fight for every little triumph and recognition we received. I highly recommend this if you like this type of genre or anything about the beauty/make-up industry.

Thank you NetGalley, Richard Kirshenbaum and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an impartial review; all opinions are my own.

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