After taking his dying father's advice, Hal dates only the embodiments of female physical perfection. But that all changes after Hal has an unexpected run-in with self-help guru Tony Robbins. Intrigued by Hal's shallowness, Robbins hypnotizes him into seeing the beauty that exists even in the least physically appealing women. Hal soon falls for Rosemary, but he doesn't realize that his gorgeous girlfriend is actually a 300-pound-not-so-hottie.

"Described as 'Snow White meets Eyes Wide Shut,' Rouge is 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. Set in California, the story explores the cult-like nature of the beauty industry — as well as 'the danger of internalizing its pitiless gaze.' Set to be published in September this year by Simon & Schuster/Marysue Rucci Books, Rouge is the latest novel from [Mona] Awad, behind All’s Well, 13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl and Bunny, which was listed among the best book of 2019 by Time, Vogue and the New York Public Library." (THR)