Lindas Book Obsession Reviews “Rouge A Novel of Beauty and Rivalry” by Richard Kirshenbaum, St. Martins Press, June 25, 2019
Richard Kirshenbaum, Author of “Rouge A Novel of Beauty and Rivalry” has written an intriguing, intense, emotional and captivating novel. The Genres for this Novel are Fiction, Women’s Fiction, with a splash of Suspense. The timeline of the story progresses over the years. The author discusses the earliest cosmetic industry, and how it progresses. The characters are described as complex, complicated, aggressive, obsessed, dysfunctional, greedy and quirky.
Beauty and wealth seem to be always in demand. In this novel, Josephine Herz and Constance Gardiner (both names have been changed) become competitors in the game of beauty and money. One has a door to door beauty business, and one establishes exclusive salons. There are dark secrets, formulas, spies, and even death. This is not a business for the weak of heart.
There are other characters involved in this business as well. The goal is to be the most famous, the wealthiest and to get the patent for the formula first. After all, women want to look their best, no matter what the cost. (and men as well ) I recommend this novel for those readers who enjoy a suspenseful and intriguing read.