Rouge Blog Tour

Rouge by Richard Kirschenbaum

Publication date :  June 25th, 2019

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Book Synopsis

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.

My thoughts:

I was in the mood for a different kind of read when I signed up for this blog tour and I hadn't heard of this author so I'd give this book a chance.  It did sound interesting with the pioneers of the makeup industry.

There were certain aspects that I enjoyed such as how hard Josephine and Constance worked to make better lives for themselves and the author describes in great detail about their lives before they became known for their brand. Once they became well known he goes into great detail about the process of making the product even down to the packaging they used.  Which is all good and well but unfortunately I just didn't connect to any of the characters because I found them to be so ruthless.  I understood the rivalry, it was the hatefulness  and underhandedness that bothered me.

Having said that, I cant say that this book is all bad because some of it was to my liking and I enjoyed getting to see the opulent lifestyle they lived and their travels.  I also liked seeing how each person rose from their humble beginnings to their ultimate goal of reaching the top even if I disagreed with their means of getting there.

I received a copy from the publisher trough Netgalley and was under no obligation to write a favorable review.  All opinions are my own. 

About the Author

RICHARD KIRSHENBAUM is CEO of NSG/SWAT, a high-profile boutique branding agency.

He has lectured at Harvard Business School, appeared on 20/20, was named to Crain’s New York
Business’s “40 under 40” list, and has been inducted into the Advertising Hall of Fame.

He is the author of Under the Radar, Closing the Deal, Madboy and Isn't that Rich? and the New York Observer, "Isn't that Rich?' column.  He lives in New York City with his wife and three children.