Rouge

this book gave off a violets-and-smoke-scent in my brain. like i think my brain was actually on fire for the first 40% of this book. maybe if the girl was seeing johnny depp in the mirror instead of tom cruise, i’d like the book better. seriously, if i ever have to hear about tom cruise again this much just shoot me in the face. i DID like the focus on belle’s egyptian heritage and how it was hard growing up looking different than anyone else- can see why that would lead to a life of “whitening”(brightening) and obsession with skincare. especially since her mom was hyperfixated on her own image. i DID like tad. cute, handsome, golden retriever tad. and i loved the chapters where we stepped back into the memories of belle’s childhood. i also loved the ending and the final reveal of the jellyfish and their meaning. mona awad’s writing is sooo weird but so addicting. as much as i hated the whole tom cruise thing i do get why she chose a familiar, celebrity face to fixate on for a small child. i also love the deeper meaning that is revealed at the end. how she was on the path to become her mother and the choices she made when she came to terms with this.