Awad masterfully paints a picture of society's obsession with youth and physical perfection. La Maison de Méduse becomes a symbol of this obsession, promising impossible transformations while preying on the insecurities of its devotees. Belle's journey through the spa highlights the seductive nature of beauty standards and the dangerous lengths to which people will go to attain them.

The novel delves into the intricate and often fraught bond between mothers and daughters. Belle's relationship with her deceased mother, Noelle, is a web of unanswered questions, resentment, and a yearning for connection. Through flashbacks and Belle's present-day discoveries, Awad reveals the lasting impact of mothers on their daughters, shaping their self-image and worldview.

"Rouge" is a meditation on mortality and the human desire to cheat death. The pursuit of eternal youth becomes a means to outrun the inevitability of aging and loss. As Belle grapples with her own mortality and that of her mother, she is forced to confront her deepest fears and desires, ultimately seeking a way to find peace within herself.