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novelswithariana · 3 months

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books I've read in 2023 📖 no. 07

Rouge by Mona Awad

“She went the way of roses. ”

#rouge #mona awad #novelswithariana #2023 reads #booklr #books #bookstagram #arc #edelweiss arc #edelweiss #marysue rucci books #moodboard #lit edit #aesthetic edit #book quotes

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thegirlwiththelantern · 3 months

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2024 Literary Books

This is a really exciting year for me. I’m looking forward to literary fiction in ways that I haven’t before. The Storm We Made: A Novel by Vanessa Chan | 02 / 01 / 24 – S&S/Marysue Rucci Books Malaya, 1945. Cecily Alcantara’s family is in terrible danger: her fifteen-year-old son, Abel, has disappeared, and her youngest daughter, Jasmin, is confined in a basement to prevent being pressed into…

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lilibetbombshell · 8 months

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quirkycatsfatstacks · 10 months

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Review: The Only Survivors by Megan Miranda

Author: Megan MirandaPublisher: Marysue Rucci BooksReleased: April 11, 2023Received: Own (BOTM) Book Summary: Cassidy is one of seven. Seven survivors. She walked away, along with six others, from a tragedy that should have taken all their lives. Now, each year, they come together on the anniversary of that unspeakable event. For safety? For comfort? Unfortunately, this year is different.…

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#Book #Book of the Month #Book Review #Books #BOTM #Fiction #Literary #Literature #Marysue Rucci Books #Megan Miranda #Review #The Only Survivors by Megan Miranda

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readnburied · 3 months

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Book Review: Rouge by Mona Awad

Date of Publishing: September 12th, 2023

Author: Mona Awad

Publisher: S&S/Marysue Rucci Books

Genre: Horror Literary Fiction, Gothic

This is a standalone novel and follows the story of Mirabelle (Belle) who sees beauty in every person except herself. Growing up as the daughter of a beautiful woman, Belle does whatever she can to make herself look beautiful, even sign up for a salon named Rouge which her Mother kept mentioning before she died. However, Rouge is not what it appears to be and Belle soon realizes that the price of beauty is sometimes to steep to pay.

I’m obsessed with Mona Awad’s books and her writing style. I don’t know how she comes up with such unique concepts and able to weave such an intriguing narrative but this is one seriously talented author and I strive to be as good as her. I. AM. NOT. JOKING.

The plot line that mixes the beauty standards of today’s day and age with fairytales was quick to suck me in and I really enjoyed reading about the vast number of beauty products that Belle uses in an attempt to appear beautiful to the world.

Moreover, the mystery surrounding her Mother’s death was an entire roller-coaster and I have to say the lady in red who appears at her Mother’s funeral was one of my favorite characters in the book; the male counter part being the other, but this author really told the world that the beauty standards now are fairly dangerous and crippling. I could sense some kind of sub text in the form of criticism about how expensive beauty treatments are these days and not everyone can afford them despite having the right to be beautiful. I’m not sure if the author intended it but that’s what I got from reading the book.

The characters were strange and mysterious as the rest of the story. Like they had a back story but as a reader I was left wondering exactly what the back story was. Belle’s mother clearly had a lot of relationships which were explored in the novel, but there were some characters I’m still wondering about; especially a dark and brooding detective who had a penchant for disguise. Though his story was explored as well, I would’ve liked to have gotten to know him a little deeper.

Mona Awad has done a fantastic job by adding a touch of creepiness in the form of the mannequins. I never imagined mannequins to be as interesting as she portrayed them. But now every time I’d look at a mannequin I wouldn’t just think of it as a figure of plaster but something more. Something that could be more.

The psychological aspect woven through the entire story was downright genius and that’s what gave the story the depth it possessed. From the obsession with mirrors and beauty to the mannequins that talked and breathed as if they were real, it was intense and it was thrilling.

And the best part was the jellyfish. I am obsessed with jellyfish and the author putting the spotlight on such beautiful, mysterious creatures stole my heart. The jellyfish taking center stage really made me fall in love with the story and I really wish I could keep a jellyfish as a pet. Furthermore, the jellyfish being a symbol for one’s memories and soul just shows how malleable and fluid a person’s thoughts can be. I also think the author kind of hinted at a future where it’d be easy for people to get rid of unhappy or traumatic memories as that kind of technology is being invented as I write this. But then the question arises, what are we without our memories? Just a bunch of mannequins—wearing identical expressions and having no opinion of our own. So this story really does leave the reader with plenty of food for thought because one really ask themselves whether they really want to get rid of the painful memories.

The entire tone of the story is dark and mysterious. Since the start of the story I was filled with questions and read the entire book just to seek the answers. The focus on mirrors was an intriguing aspect to the story just like the jellyfish. And the man in the mirror does seem like the negative voice inside everyone’s head which tells them they’re not good enough and need to work harder to look beautiful.

Beauty, though makes the world more appealing can be incredibly lethal if it’s forced.

All in all, this book is a must read for everyone and I’m looking forward to Mona Awad’s upcoming books—whenever that maybe. I’m only left with one book by this author which I have yet to read and rest assured I’ll be doing that as soon as I get the chance. But I highly recommend this book to everyone and I urge you all to give this book a chance as soon as possible.

#read n buried #reading #booklr #books and reading #book #books #books & libraries #book blog #currently reading #book community #Book Review #book recommendations #new books #book blogger #book club #Bookish #bookworm #bookstagram #book tumblr

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rockstarswrite · 9 days

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Daughter of Mine

by Megan Miranda

published by S&S/Marysue Rucci Books

Available in hardcover, ebook, and unabridged audio download

From the Simon & Schuster website:

When Hazel Sharp, daughter of Mirror Lake’s longtime local detective, unexpectedly inherits her childhood home, she’s warily drawn back to the town—and people—she left behind almost a decade earlier. But Hazel’s not the only relic of the past to return: a drought has descended on the region, and as the water level in the lake drops, long-hidden secrets begin to emerge…including evidence that may help finally explain the mystery of her mother’s disappearance.

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#authors #writerscommunity #publishers

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musingsofmonica · 1 month

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January 2024 Diverse Reads

January 2024 Diverse Reads:

•”How We Named the Stars” by Andrés N. Ordorica, January 30, Tin House Books, Literary/LGBT/Hispanic & Latino/Coming of Age

•”Red String Theory” by Lauren Kung Jessen, January 09, Forever, Romance/Romantic Comedy/Asian American

•”Come and Get It” by Kiley Reid, January 30, G.P. Putnam's Sons, Literary/Coming of Age/Women

•”Martyr!” by Kaveh Akbar, January 23, Knopf Publishing Group, Literary/Family Life/LGBT

•”The Storm We Made” by Vanessa Chan, January 02, S&S/Marysue Rucci Books, Literary, World Literature/Asia/Historical /20th Century/Post-World War II/Women

•”The Mayor of Maxwell Street” by Avery Cunningham, January 30, Hyperion Avenue, Romance/Historical/African American/Women

•”The Queen of Sugar Hill: A Novel of Hattie McDaniel” by Reshonda Tate, January 30, William Morrow & Company, Biographical/Historical/African American/Women/Own Voices/World Literature/American/20th Century/Post-World War II

•”A Quantum Love Story” by Mike Chen, Mira Books, January 30, Romance/Time Travel/Science Fiction/Time Travel/Family Life/Siblings

•”The Bullet Swallower” by Elizabeth Gonzalez, January 23, Simon & Schuster, Literary/Hispanic & Latino/Magical Realism

•”When Things Don't Go Your Way: Zen Wisdom for Difficult Times” by Haemin Sunim & Charles La Shure (Translator), January 23, Penguin Life, Buddhist/Mindfulness & Meditation/Philosophy/Personal Growth/Buddhism

•”Black Women Taught Us: An Intimate History of Black Feminism” by Jenn M. Jackson, January 23, Random House, Women/American Government/Feminism & Feminist Theory/Women's Studies

•Our Hidden Conversations: What Americans Really Think about Race and Identity” by

Michele Norris, January 16, Simon & Schuster, Ethnic Studies/Discrimination & Race Relations/Social Classes & Economic Disparity/Cultural & Social

•”River East, River West” by Aube Rey Lescure, January 09, William Morrow & Company, Literary/Coming of Age/Family Life/Asian American/Cultural Heritage/World Literature-China/21st Century

•”Where I Belong: Healing Trauma and Embracing Asian American Identity” by Soo Jin Lee & Linda Yoon, January 09, Tarcherperigee, Ethnic Studies/ Asian American Studies/Mental Health/Personal Growth

•”Your Utopia: Stories” by Bora Chung & Anton Hur, January 30, Algonquin Books, Horror/Science Fiction/Short Stories/World Literature/Korea

•”On Thriving: Harnessing Joy Through Life's Great Labors” by Brandi Sellerz-Jackson, January 09, Ballantine Books, Personal Memoirs/Inspiration & Personal Growth

•”The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years” by Shubnum Khan, January 09, Viking, Historical/Gothic/Women

•”Behind You Is the Sea” by Susan Muaddi Darraj, January 16, Harpervia, Literary/Short Stories/Humor/Coming of Age/Women/Family Life/Cultural Heritage/Feminist/Muslim/Own Voices/World Literature/Middle East/Arabian Peninsula

•”Be a Revolution: How Everyday People Are Fighting Oppression and Changing the World--And How You Can, Ijeoma Oluo, January 30, HarperOne, Activism & Social Justice/Ethnic Studies/Personal Growth/Anthropology/Cultural & Social/Race & Ethnic Relations/Civil Rights/Social Activists/United States/21st Century/Human Rights/Motivational & Inspirational

.”The Night of the Storm” by Nishita Parekh, January 16, Dutton, Thriller/Mystery & Detective/Family Life/Asian American

#books #bookish #bookworm #bibliophile #book lover #reading #bookaddict #book #booklr #bookaholic #reading list #to read #reading resolutions #reading recommendations #bookblr #books and reading #reader #diverse books #diverse reads

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ash-and-books · 11 months

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Rating: 3.5/5

Book Blurb: From the critically acclaimed author of Bunny comes a horror-tinted, gothic fairy tale about a lonely dress shop clerk whose mother’s unexpected death sends her down a treacherous path in pursuit of youth and beauty. Can she escape her mother’s fate—and find a connection that is more than skin deep? For as long as she can remember, Belle has been insidiously obsessed with her skin and skincare videos. When her estranged mother Noelle mysteriously dies, Belle finds herself back in Southern California, dealing with her mother’s considerable debts and grappling with lingering questions about her death. The stakes escalate when a strange woman in red appears at the funeral, offering a tantalizing clue about her mother’s demise, followed by a cryptic video about a transformative spa experience. With the help of a pair of red shoes, Belle is lured into the barbed embrace of La Maison de Méduse, the same lavish, culty spa to which her mother was devoted. There, Belle discovers the frightening secret behind her (and her mother’s) obsession with the mirror—and the great shimmering depths (and demons) that lurk on the other side of the glass. Snow White meets Eyes Wide Shut in this surreal descent into the dark side of beauty, envy, grief, and the complicated love between mothers and daughters. With black humor and seductive horror, Rouge explores the cult-like nature of the beauty industry—as well as the danger of internalizing its pitiless gaze. Brimming with California sunshine and blood-red rose petals, Rouge holds up a warped mirror to our relationship with mortality, our collective fixation with the surface, and the wondrous, deep longing that might lie beneath.

Review:

A gothic fairytale about a girl who spirals down her mother’s life and her obsession with beauty, envy, grief, and vanity... all through an Alice in Wonderland/ A Cure for Wellness/ David Lynch kind of style. Mirabelle has a beautiful mother, in fact she grew up completely obsessed with being as beautiful as her mother. Years later they are estranged but then Mirabelle is told that her mother died and now she has to come back home and face her childhood... and the strange life her mother lead including the strange mansion filled with strange, beautiful, and wealthy people who are obsessed with obtaining beauty. Mirabelle has a strange relationship with her mother, hating and envying her for her beauty, but loving her all the same. Mirabelle is now obsessed with finding out who these people were in her mother’s life... how her mother is connected to this strange house in the cave and how her mother was a devote to this spa and how Mirabelle herself is finding herself being obsessed with their “treatments” that would make her just as beautiful.... yet beauty has a cost and if Mirabelle truly wants to have it she’ll have to uncover her childhood and face the question if whether or not she really wants to give everything up for beauty. This was a strange one, it definitely had a gothic fairytale kind of style especially with how fairytales, beauty, princes, shadow men, and magical mirrors all played into it. It also tackles the question of how far we are willing to go to fit into a standard of beauty, of the complicated relationship between mother and daughter as well as complex fixation we have on being perceived as the most beautiful, of being perfect and the price we pay for it. it had an interesting ending and certainly was a unique read.

*Thanks Netgalley and Simon Element, S&S/ Marysue Rucci Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

#book review #bookish #book #mona awad #rouge

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deadlinecom · 1 month

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howdidthatbookend · 2 months

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Megan Miranda | Daughter of Mine

The Book: Daughter of Mine by Megan MirandaPublished April 9, 2024 by Marysue Rucci Books (Simon & Schuster)Date read: March 11, 2024 The Characters: Hazel ⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 3 out of 5. Buy it on Bookshop.org | Amazon This page contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases made through links on this site. The Plot (from Goodreads): When Hazel Sharp,…

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#apr24 #homecoming #missing person #North Carolina #Simon and Schuster #thriller

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otherpplnation · 2 months

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901. Vanessa Chan

Vanessa Chan is the author of the bestselling debut novel The Storm We Made, available from Marysue Rucci Books. It is the official February pick of the Otherppl Book Club.

The Storm We Made is a national bestseller, Good Morning America Book Club Pick and BBC Radio 2 Book Club pick. Acquired by international publishers in a flurry of auctions, the novel will be published in more than twenty languages worldwide. Her other work has been published in Vogue, Esquire, and more. Vanessa grew up in Malaysia and is now based mostly in Brooklyn.

***

Otherppl with Brad Listi is a weekly literary podcast featuring in-depth interviews with today's leading writers.

Available where podcasts are available: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, etc.

Subscribe to Brad Listi’s email newsletter.

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Email the show: letters [at] otherppl [dot] com

The podcast is a proud affiliate partner of Bookshop, working to support local, independent bookstores.

www.otherppl.com

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novelswithariana · 3 months

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🌸 ARIANA'S BOOK REVIEW 🌸

⭐⭐⭐⭐✨/5

Genre: Horror, Gothic, Thriller, Contemporary, Adult, Fantasy

📚 Synopsis: From the critically acclaimed author of Bunny comes a horror-tinted, gothic fairy tale about a lonely dress shop clerk whose mother’s unexpected death sends her down a treacherous path in pursuit of youth and beauty. Can she escape her mother’s fate—and find a connection that is more than skin deep?

For as long as she can remember, Belle has been insidiously obsessed with her skin and skincare videos. When her estranged mother Noelle mysteriously dies, Belle finds herself back in Southern California, dealing with her mother’s considerable debts and grappling with lingering questions about her death. The stakes escalate when a strange woman in red appears at the funeral, offering a tantalizing clue about her mother’s demise, followed by a cryptic video about a transformative spa experience. With the help of a pair of red shoes, Belle is lured into the barbed embrace of La Maison de Méduse, the same lavish, culty spa to which her mother was devoted. There, Belle discovers the frightening secret behind her (and her mother’s) obsession with the mirror—and the great shimmering depths (and demons) that lurk on the other side of the glass.

Snow White meets Eyes Wide Shut in this surreal descent into the dark side of beauty, envy, grief, and the complicated love between mothers and daughters. With black humor and seductive horror, Rouge explores the cult-like nature of the beauty industry—as well as the danger of internalizing its pitiless gaze. Brimming with California sunshine and blood-red rose petals, Rouge holds up a warped mirror to our relationship with mortality, our collective fixation with the surface, and the wondrous, deep longing that might lie beneath.

📝 Review: If you're a fan of horror fiction or enjoy a spine-chilling read, "Rouge" by Mona Awad should be at the top of your must-read list. Awad's gripping tale takes readers on a dark and suspenseful journey, leaving them both enthralled and unnerved.

In "Rouge," Awad seamlessly combines elements of horror and psychological suspense, crafting an unsettling atmosphere that captivates from the very first page. The story is filled with unexpected twists and turns, keeping readers on the edge of their seats, eager to devour every word.

At its core, this story reflects on the beauty industry and media's exploitation of people's insecurities from a young age. "Rouge" exposes the damaging narrative that women are only valuable if they conform to specific standards. It also sheds light on the manipulation and fascination of older men with young girls, highlighting the power dynamics and the pervasive nature of such relationships.

What sets "Rouge" apart from other horror novels in the genre is Awad's unique ability to blend the supernatural with everyday experiences and emotions. The sense of dread and unease seeps off the pages, making even the most mundane activities feel unsettling. As the story unfolds, readers will question the boundaries between reality and nightmare.

This thought-provoking and captivating read leaves a lasting impact. "Rouge" goes beyond surface-level scares, delving into important social commentary while challenging traditional narratives. Awad artfully crafts a narrative that demands attention, prompting readers to question societal expectations and the damaging effects of the beauty industry. With its intricate exploration of mother-daughter relationships, manipulation, and the dark truths of society, this book is a must-read for anyone seeking a thought-provoking and emotionally charged experience.

🔍 Rec: People who have read ‘Silver Nitrate’ (Silvia Moreno-Garcia), ‘Black Sheep’ (Rachel Harrison) and ‘Death Valley’ (Melissa Broder) may like this book.

Thank you Mona Awad, S&S/ Marysue Rucci Books and Edelweiss for this delightful read. All opinions expressed here are purely my own.

🦋 Have you read any book highlighting the issues with the beauty industry?

#rouge #mona awad #novelswithariana #2023 reads #booklr #books #arc #marysue rucci books #book review #bookstagram #edelweiss #edelweiss arc

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kkecreads · 9 months

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Shark Heart by Emily Habeck

Published: August 8, 2023 S&S / Marysue Rucci Books Genre: Literary Fiction Pages: 415 KKECReads Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily. Emily Habeck has a BFA in theater from SMU’s Meadows School of the Arts as well as master’s degrees from Vanderbilt Divinity School and Vanderbilt’s Peabody College. She grew up in Ardmore,…

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littlemosbookrecs · 1 year

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Title: The Blue Window

Author: Suzanne Berne

This was a difficult read for me, not because of the writing itself, but because I found Marika to be such an unlikable character.

I think what bothered me most was that Marika never gave a valid reason for leaving her children behind, and it came across as extremely selfish. I was surprised her daughter Lorna even wanted to try to have a relationship with her mother after that, but as it turns out, it wasn’t even Marika who initiated trying to reconnect; it was her neighbor, who just so happened to be someone from her past.

There were so many contributing factors to this dysfunctional family, and I was left with more questions than answers. I also felt that a lot was left unresolved by the end of this story, and I found that a bit disappointing. I think the book had potential and I wish the author would have included a little more of Marika’s past during the Nazi occupation of Holland, but overall it was just an ok story.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner/Marysue Rucci Books for providing a copy of this book to review.*

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

https://amzn.to/3WC7YQn

#booklover #booknerd #bookworm #books #ebooks #paperbacks #reader #reviewer #bookreviews #bookrecs #somanybookssolittletime

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quirkycatsfatstacks · 6 months

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Review: Shark Heart by Emily Habeck

Author: Emily HabeckPublisher: S&S Marysue Rucci BooksReleased: August 8, 2023Received: Own (BOTM) Find it on Goodreads | BOTM | More BOTM Reviews Book Summary: Lewis and Wren may seem like an unlikely couple, but they are perfect for one another. So it is only a matter of time before they wed. Only fate does not seem inclined to give this perfect couple much time to create new…

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fictionophile · 2 years

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Teaser Tuesday - May 10, 2022 #NewBook #TeaserTuesday #TheFoundling @annleary @simonschuster @ScribnerBooks @msrucci

Teaser Tuesday – May 10, 2022 #NewBook #TeaserTuesday #TheFoundling @annleary @simonschuster @ScribnerBooks @msrucci

My Tuesday post where I’ll ‘tease‘ you with the cover, blurb, and first paragraph of one of the advanced reader’s copies from my own TBR. This book is a title I downloaded from Edelweiss. Today, Tuesday May 10, 2022 I want to introduce one of the ARCs on my TBR. This novel will be published on May 31, 2022Publisher: MarySue Rucci Books / Scribner / Simon & Schuster ISBN: 9781982120382 – 336…

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#Historical fiction #stand-alone novels #TBR list

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