Rouge by Mona Awad
A portal into a world of red roses, cracked mirrors and beauty's darker side.
Welcome to the first edition of Strange Pages, where books come to life through art, scent and objects that evoke their worlds. We begin with Rouge, Mona Awad’s haunting novel about beauty, obsession and something far darker.
In Rouge, Belle returns to Southern California after her mother’s unexpected death, arriving at a seaside condo full of shattered mirrors. A strange woman in red speaks of roses, and a pair of crimson shoes leads Belle to La Maison de Méduse, a cult-like spa perched on the cliffs. As ageless figures drift through dark halls, glowing red jellyfish pulsate in their tanks and Belle undergoes unsettling treatments promising to reveal her “Most Magnificent Self,” her sense of reality unravels.
Awad’s novel is a surreal descent into the cult of beauty, where mirrors are portals, faces become masks, and nothing is as it seems. Join me as we step into the world of Rouge—but be warned: the way of roses is not as lovely as it sounds.
“She went the way of roses,” this woman says to me. And smiles. Like that’s so lovely. When she says the word roses, I see a flash of red. It fills my vision briefly like a fog. Then it’s gone. And there’s the woman in red standing in front of me against the bright blue sky. “The way of roses,” I repeat. I’m entranced, even as I feel a coldness inside me, spreading. “What’s the way of roses?” She just smiles.
The Look
Aliza Morell’s oil painting: Neon green stems pierce the dark, electric red blooms glow faintly, like a glimpse outside a nail salon at dusk. Her use of floral motifs blur the line between beauty and artifice, bringing to mind the synthetic glamour of Rouge.
Jeanine Brito’s painting: Soft petals on a vibrant red backdrop suggest timeless beauty, but underneath, Brito explores themes of feminine sacrifice, highlighting the book's message that perfection comes with a price. You can delve further into Brito’s world through ’s studio visit.
Studio Linné’s arrangement: Deep red roses, spotted Begonia leaves and cascading Amaranthus spill outward in a wild, untamed form. Set against a gritty street, it blends striking beauty with a sense of danger, capturing the dark allure of Rouge's La Maison de Méduse.
Claire Brewster’s “A Rose Without Thorns”: This hand-cut vintage atlas invites you to read between the lines. Just as Brewster carves away layers to reveal new perspectives, the text asks us to look beyond the beauty industry’s glossy façade.
Margo Wolowiec’s “Rose Garden II”: This textile piece echoes the visual glitches of digital spaces. Fragmented patterns shift between clarity and distortion, illustrating Belle's wavering between reality and illusion.
Sho Sagawa’s "Rose Garden: Pink roses bloom vibrantly against dark, lush greenery. The composition contrasts deep reds and greens with soft petals, evoking beauty intertwined with mystery.
Othelo Gervacio’s painting: Delicate, wilting blooms appear before the outline of a skull, highlighting the fleeting beauty of flowers and underscoring Rouge's theme of the fragility of appearances.
Rory Hutton’s “Rose Garden”: A giclée print inspired by a scarf pattern, featuring the controlled beauty of classic garden design, brings to mind the pressures of maintaining a flawless image, much like the relentless pursuit of perfection explored in the book.
Katherine Earle’s Jelly Fish: This series uses intricate embroidery on single-use plastic bags to draw attention to the environmental impact on marine life. Like Rouge, Earle’s work encourages reflection on consumption and its hidden consequences.
Etienne Chaize’s “Ether”: Delicate graphite lines pull jellyfish through a gray, fog-like space. Their forms drift between presence and absence, much like Belle’s journey in Rouge.
The Objects
Banzo’s Red Ballet Shoes: Banzo, a Mexico City brand discovered through ’s Latin Zine, delves into the connection between memories and clothing, echoing the red shoes in Rouge—once her mother’s, they pull Belle deeper into a world of dangerous beauty and obsession.
Pierre Charpin’s mirror: This piece could easily belong in Rouge, where mirrors symbolize obsession and identity, with one even serving as a portal for an unexpected figure. Charpin’s sleek design invites the same question that haunts the book—what lies beneath the image we project?
Le Feu de L'Eau’s candle: Sculpted underwater, this candle blends musky geranium with sweet Moroccan rose. Its scent and vivid color reflect the essence of Rouge, where the pull of water and beauty permeates every moment of the story.
The Scent
Seduction Theory by Universal Flowering: With notes of black currant, jasmine pearl, lychee martini and tobacco, this perfume could have come straight from Rouge. Awad uses scent to define her characters—like smoke and violets for Belle’s mother—and this perfume evokes a similar intensity with hints of “Virginia Slims, waking up screaming and hysteria.” The brand’s description of the scent as a disturbing dinner with mother and an unidentified cocktail parallels the strange gatherings at La Maison de Méduse.
The Taste
To further immerse yourself in the world of Rouge, try one of these rose-infused treats: ’s Spiral Flatbread is golden-fried and adorned with mint leaves and dried rose petals. ’s Rose, Pistachio and Cardamom Brownies are rich and fragrant with floral rose and spiced cardamom. Finally, ’s Raspberry Tomato Rose Sorbet is a bright blend of rose and citrus with a hint of savory tomato, while her Miso Rose Chocolate Chip Cookies combine sweet rosewater with the savory depth of white miso.
The Films
In Rouge, Tom Cruise symbolizes Belle's nostalgia and desire for unattainable perfection, pulling her further from reality. To better understand Belle’s obsession, re-watch Top Gun and Risky Business, which showcase Cruise’s late-80s star power and highlight his role in her fantasies.
For a deeper understanding of Belle’s mother’s perspective, watch classic black-and-white films like Bed of Roses (1933), where deception, ambition and the cost of beauty take center stage, reflecting the novel’s dynamics.
Supplemental films that explore themes similar to Rouge:
Beauty and obsession: The Neon Demon, Black Swan
Psychological descent: Mulholland Drive, Perfect Blue, Persona
Surreal and dreamlike: Eyes Wide Shut, The Double Life of Véronique
Beauty industry critique: Death Becomes Her, The Substance
Fairytale and dark fantasy: Snow White, Beauty and the Beast
The Books
I Never Promised You a Rose Garden by Joanne Greenberg: A semi-autobiographical tale of a girl escaping into an imagined world to cope with mental illness. Its deep exploration of identity, perception and reality makes it a fitting companion to Rouge.
Supplemental books that explore themes similar to Rouge:
Beauty and obsession: The Pisces by Melissa Broder
Psychological descent: Bunny by Mona Awad, Earthlings by Sayaka Murata, I Hold a Wolf by the Ears by Laura van den Berg, One's Company by Ashley Hutson
Surreal and dreamlike: Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado, Build Your House Around My Body by Violet Kupersmith
Beauty industry critique: Natural Beauty by Ling Ling Huang
Fairytale and dark fantasy: The Red Shoes by Hans Christian Andersen, Grimm’s Fairy Tales by the Grimm Brothers
All About Roses: If you’re interested in tending to flowers, this book is an excellent resource. Covering over 250 varieties, it provides comprehensive guidance on rose care. Like Rouge, it reveals how the pursuit of beauty can easily evolve into an obsession.
The Setting
La Jolla’s rugged coastline, with its cliffs plunging into the Pacific, is the ideal backdrop for Rouge. Awad chose this seaside enclave for its proximity to the ocean, which she describes as the “first and most elemental mirror.” In the book, La Jolla’s natural beauty conceals a hidden darkness, with the ocean playing a dual role—both captivating and menacing, reflecting the novel’s themes of allure and danger.
If you're visiting La Jolla, consider staying at the Valencia Hotel, a historic, pink-hued landmark with Spanish tile throughout its courtyards and terraces, offering stunning views of the sea. Lounge by the oceanfront pool or visit the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego nearby. For lunch, head to Wayfarer Bread and try their Jalapeño Fontina Croissant or a seasonal pastry with local figs, burnt honey, lemon thyme and a touch of sea salt.
For dinner, reserve a table at the iconic Marine Room, where waves crash dramatically against the windows, offering stunning ocean views. Known for its elegant seafood dishes and fine dining experience, this landmark restaurant has been a La Jolla staple since 1941. The setting perfectly complements Rouge’s themes, with the ocean ever-present—both beautiful and slightly unsettling.
The End
Since Rouge critiques the cult of beauty, I’ve avoided recommending any skincare products. Instead, I suggest reading ’s essay on embracing the beauty of aging: “I had a dream I was an old woman last night. Grey hair, wrinkled face, soft arms,” she writes. “And all I felt was freedom.”
And finally, I’ll leave you with “I Wish You Roses” by Kali Uchis. 🌹