Today I am thrilled to bring you a review for this exciting book, Rouge by Richard Kirshenbaum, available from St. Martin’s Press on June 25, 2019! I also will have a giveaway over on my instagram page, in case you are interested. A huge thank you to FSB Associates for the invitation to read and review Rouge and for sponsoring the giveaway!
My Thoughts:
Wowza! Rouge was fun, enlightening, and enthralling! Richard Kirshenbaum immediately places the reader smack dab in the mix in between two icons of the beauty industry. There’s a fierce rivalry between these two women and who will be on top of marketing make-up. But it doesn’t start and end there.
Rouge also examines the dreamers who invented the modern cosmetics industry, the woman who made herself a style icon and the richest female in the world, the woman who creates a door-to-door beauty sales business, and the first African American female millionaire.
Everyone wants to be number one at any cost, even if it means murder.
Beginning in 1922 and continuing through 1993, Rouge is perfectly-written, well-paced, and full of antics and drama. I was completely invested in this entertaining story and I loved the historical backdrop of the 30s, probation, McCarthyism, and all the societal pressures that came along with each time period.
Rouge is full of intrigue, the cast of characters are complex, dynamic, and memorable, and I thought this was a masterful presentation of the pursuit of the American dream and the cutthroat nature of business.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
About the Book:
Like Swans of Fifth Avenue and Truman Capote’s Answered Prayers, Richard Kirshenbaum’s Rouge gives readers a rare front row seat into the world of high society and business through the rivalry of two beauty industry icons (think Helena Rubenstein and Elizabeth Arden), by the master marketer and chronicler of the over-moneyed.
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.
Have you read Rouge, or is it on your TBR? Happy Reading! ~ Jennifer THR
Great picture and review, Jennifer! Thanks for the giveaway. I added this historical fiction to my tbr list. Happy a Thursday!🌹🌹❤️📚🌹🌹😊😘
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Thank you, Virginia! I think you’d have a lot of fun with this book! ♥️ Happy Thursday to you, too! Xoxo
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Wow! I hadn’t seen this book but boy does it sound fascinating. Outstanding review, Jennifer💜
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Thanks so much, Jonetta! It’s such a good read! I’m so grateful it was put on my radar so I didn’t miss it! ♥️
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Beautiful pic, this sounds like such an inspiring read. Great review!
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Thanks so much, Diana! It was inspiring and full of fun and drama! ♥️
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Wonderful review Jennifer. This sounds fascinating, but not sure if it is gong on my TBR right away. Always love seeing your gorgeous book photos.
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Thanks so much, Carla! ♥️ I understand – so many books! I loved this one. It surprised me in the best of ways. What a twist on hist fic to have these makeup gurus!
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It’s definitely not something I would have thought there would be a fiction story about.
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What a beautiful picture Jen!😁 Lovely review and don’t you kind of wish you lived in this time period? Have a wonderful day my BOOKISH friend!😎💙📚
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Thanks so much, Sus! I do! I was born for it! I love the music, the art glass/antiques! 😂 I hope you had a lovely day, too, my friend! 💗
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I’ve not heard of this book, but seriously your review makes it quite alluring.
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Thanks so much, Marialyce! It was a fascinating and intriguing read! I had fun with it!
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I don’t know if I’ve ever read a historical that deals with the make up industry, I can see why you loved this! It sounds fascinating 😁
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Thanks so much, Tammy! I agree- I’d not read anything like this for hist fic before, and it worked so well! Lots of intrigue!
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I’ve never heard of this one, but I bet it was an interesting read! I’m glad you enjoyed it. Happy Thursday! xoxo ❤
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Thanks, Steph! It was super good, and I’m so grateful I was invited to read it! One of the most interesting hist fic books I’ve read this year! I hope you had a lovely Thursday too! 💕 xoxoxo
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This actually sounds amazing ., Excellent review! I like the business and cultural aspects to this story.
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Thanks so much, Anne! It was really an amazing read! It surprised me in many ways!
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OOOOO I have to read this one!!! Of course I love that the story focuses on the beauty industry lol starting in the 1930s and carries through to (somewhat) present-day 😀
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I was SO hoping you’d see this, LP! It’s right up your alley in so many ways! Hist fic about makeup! Woo hoo! It was great!
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Wow! How have I not heard of this book?! Instantly adding this to the TBR. Fantastic review and it sounds really interesting! Thanks for putting it on my radar!
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Thanks so much, Kim! If you are interested, I have a giveaway over on instagram for it. It was SO good! ♥️
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Thank you for adding to my TBR list, Jennifer! This book sounds really interesting!
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It was such a terrific read, Kris! It surprised me in many ways! I hope you get a chance to check it out!
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Sounds like a unique way to look at society through the years! Those roses are fantastic, by the way… 😀
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Thanks so much, FF! I loved how they matched the cover! It definitely was an interesting take and premise!
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How fun does this sound??
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It was so much fun, Angela!
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Beautiful photo, Jennifer. I like the sound of this book!
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Thanks, Chrissi! It was a bold and intriguing book! I loved it!
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