Beauty - Louise Mensch

Beauty by Louise Mensch
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

'Dream big. Set no limits. Be bold. Manhattan is there for the taking in the world of Louise Mensch.

Blend it. Sculpt it. Shape it. Use it...

There isn't a woman on earth who doesn't have her beauty secrets. But for Dina Kane, beauty is more than just business. It's power. And it is the secret. She's dragged herself up from poverty to Park Avenue. She's rolled with the punches. And she's learned how to win.

Now someone is out to destroy her, and all she's built. But they've underestimated Dina Kane. She's staying at the top - and she's happy to wait for the perfect moment to exact her revenge...'



A good satisfying read, the main character Dina Kane is a strong woman, clever, resourceful and determined to claw her way out of her unhappy home life and forge a new beginning for herself.

This novel moved at a good pace and was easy to read so much so that I finished it in just over a day. The characters were well formed and Dina was likeable and believable. It was such a change to read a chic lit where the main female character was strong and independent She is determined to make a success of her life and to find the love she was denied as a child. She faces many obstacles during her journey and makes some powerful enemies but she driven through ambition and revenge creating admiration and jealousy in others. This is about power, ruthlessness, revenge, secrets and love - a good strong leading character and good sub plots make this novel race so reading it is effortless.

Louise Mensch takes the reader on a journey of Dina's life, growing up with a mother who hates her for her beauty and clinging on to the love of her adored brother. She is neglected and rejected by her mother, starved of love and affection and is eventually thrown out before her 18th birthday to make her own way in life.

With no college degree Dina has to work her way up starting in a coffee shop and eventually into the beauty industry doing all this with no help from anyone she is tired and alone and when someone shows her affection she lets her guard down and is eventually betrayed. Feeling humiliated and used Dina vows to have her revenge. Without giving anything away her past comes back to haunt her with devastating consequences as she climbs the ladder to success.

As a reader you want Dina to succeed, you care about what happens to her and the cut throat world of business, wealth and power that attract and threaten her is cleverly portrayed through the novel.

As a chick lit there was a lot that was predictable but some good twists to keep the reader moving through to the end.

A good holiday read deserving of a 5 star rating

I would like to thank the publisher for sending me this in exchange for an honest review.