Rouge

More about the book

In this wicked gothic fairy tale, the worship of beauty and the dangers of neglecting grief take center stage. Isabelle Nour, known as Belle, returns to La Jolla, California, for her mother Noelle's funeral, a trip that reveals darker undertones than the sunny locale suggests. While clearing out her mother’s house, Belle discovers childhood mementos, including a diary filled with surreal secrets she wishes to forget, such as her past obsession with Tom Cruise. La Jolla entices Belle to linger, surrounded by beautiful strangers, including her mother’s former lovers, who reveal shocking truths about Noelle. One night, she attends a bizarre mansion party hosted by a mysterious woman in red, featuring a glowing tank of red jellyfish. This event propels Belle into a chaotic journey filled with mayhem, cults, and magic mirrors, drawing her deeper into a world that reflects her grief. This narrative serves as a striking critique of mainstream beauty standards, whitewashed makeup campaigns, and the relentless pressure to maintain youthfulness, all encapsulated in a newly coined genre of Sephora Horror.