This month’s pick of the month from Andrea Peskind-Katz from GREAT THOUGHTS, GREAT READERS is:
Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl by Renee Rosen
Every month, Andrea chooses a book either written by an individual aged 50Plus or written for this awesome community!
It’s 1938, and a young woman selling face cream out of a New York City beauty parlor is determined to prove she can have it all. Her name is Estée Lauder, and she’s about to take the world by storm, in this dazzling new novel from the USA Today bestselling author of The Social Graces and Park Avenue Summer.
Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl by Renee Rosen is a delightful look into the world of hardworking women and their secrets. It tells the rags-to-riches story of Estée Lauder, a woman whose cosmetics line we now all know and love. Estée‘s best friend, Gloria, narrates this story about women reinventing themselves and navigating finding success in a world closed off to female leaders. Gloria wishes to escape her infamous father’s shadow. Estée wishes to convince everyone that she belongs in the whirlwind world of cosmetics and isn’t just a nobody. They each have their own pasts which they almost never disclose, even to each other. Rosen masterfully illustrates the powerful bond of female friendship between the two women.
A shining example of female friendship…
Estée Lauder poured practically her entire life savings (and most of her soul) into making it in the world of cosmetics. Success was not a given at any point. This brings her triumphs and tragedies into a more accessible format. We meet her part way through her journey, as a woman operating a laboratory in her kitchen by night and hawking the skincare products she makes by day. Her work ethic and creativity are unparalleled.
Estée meets Gloria as she is selling her cosmetics in a beauty parlor. Gloria’s father recently suffered a major financial downturn. Gloria, suddenly thrust out of her comfortable life, must not find a job for the first time in her life. The two soon form a tight bond made all the more powerful through shared experiences.
Rosen’s characters have problems and depth, which truly brings them to life. It is worth mentioning two of the side characters who truly advance the narrative. Bonni, a struggling artist, and Darlene, a mentor figure.
Estée and Gloria’s story is a shining example of female friendship. They stand by each other through thick and thin. You can’t help but find commonalities with your own journey even when played out on a grander scale of heartache and perseverance. The impeccable research by Rosen and historical endnotes add to the richness of her novel.
I don’t have the sales ability of Estée Lauder, but I wholeheartedly believe everyone should give this book a try! Hopefully after a few chapters, Estee’s magic will grab hold of you as it did me.
I was given a free copy of this book by Penguin Random House in exchange for my honest review.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Renée Rosen is the USA Today bestselling author of Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl, The Social Graces along with five other historical novels including Park Avenue Summer, Windy City Blues and What the Lady Wants. Her novels have been translated into over a dozen languages. Renée lives in Chicago and is at work on a new novel about the Barbie doll creator, Ruth Handler, coming Spring 2025. To learn more, please visit her website: www.reneerosen.com.
About Andrea Peskind Katz from GREAT THOUGHTS, GREAT READERS:
Andrea Peskind Katz runs Great Thoughts, Great Readers, a Book Salon presented via her private FB group where approximately 5000 prolific readers and authors interact. She also founded Greatthoughts.com, a lifestyle website blog focusing on Great Books and Great Travel. To quote Robert Frost, she created her “second act” career to “unite my avocation and my vocation”. After 20 years in high pressure sales, Andrea retired to spend time doing what she loves best: hanging with her family, reading good books.
Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl by Renee Rosen
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Leslie Farin is the Publisher and Founder of 50PlusToday. She is an experienced communications and marketing professional passionate about working with older adults and their families. She works with a team of writers to provide essential and cutting-edge information related to the 50Plus community.
Nice cover design, I can’t read the front info except title and author. I wish to read the back cover details.
Hi Sana, I’m sorry, we don’t have an image of the back cover – but here is a link to read more information about the book – https://www.amazon.com/Fifth-Avenue-Glamour-Ren%C3%A9e-Rosen-ebook/dp/B0B7KNGYTT/ref=sr_1_2?