A Beautiful Rival

The world is at war, but on the gilded streets of Fifth Avenue, New York, a battle of a different kind is brewing…

New York, 1915. Elizabeth Arden has been New York’s golden girl since her beauty salon opened its famous red door five years prior. Against all odds, she’s built an empire.

Enter Helena Rubinstein: ruthless, revolutionary – and the rival Elizabeth didn’t bargain for.

With both women determined to succeed – no matter the personal cost – a battle of beauty is born. And as the stakes increase, so do the methods: poaching employees, planting spies, copying products, hiring ex-husbands.

But as each woman climbs higher, so too does what she stands to lose.

Because the greater the height, the harder the fall…

In this stunning new novel, internationally bestselling author Gill Paul reveals the unknown history of cosmetic titans Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubinstein and their infamous rivalry that spanned not only decades, but also broken marriages, personal tragedies, and a world that was changing dramatically for women – perfect for fans of Fiona Davis, Dinah Jefferies and Karen Swan. Readers adore A Beautiful Rival: ‘I knew absolutely nothing about the lives of the women behind the iconic products, or about the fierce competition between them, but, as she always does so wonderfully, Gill Paul has taken the known facts about their lives (her research is as meticulous as ever), added a dash of her extraordinary imagination, and woven a wonderful story – breathing life into her characters and transporting the reader into their fascinating world.’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A terrific read and a wonderful insight into these two giants of the beauty world. I was transfixed throughout. Highly recommend.’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘This book cemented my thoughts that any book by Gill Paul is an excellent one. I loved how the rivalry between Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubinstein was portrayed, it had me hooked.’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘The knives out jealousy that forged high end glamour. This is such compulsive reading, shocking and cheekily funny… The spying on practices and aesthetics, the poaching of employees and advisors, the tit for tat copying and meddling in strategies, the upward mobility efforts and petty insecurities … The author blew me away with her blend of historically accurate, imaginatively realised and dramatically portrayed narrative. I can't wait for her next book, she is an auto buy author for me now!’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘The focus on real historical characters, albeit fictionalised, makes this a fascinating story. I like the evocative historical detail, the complex characters and the emotion that runs through this story.’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘This book is rife with rivalry, rage, and rouge. I love how Paul has been sharing tidbits about each woman on her social media channels. Beauty is not for the weak and both women were powerhouses of powder, lipstick, and looking one’s best.’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘The women in the book were strong characters who didn't suffer fools … Everytime I read one of Gill Paul's books I end up being lost down the rabbit hole which is Google looking for more information about the historical characters she has written about. Gill's research is amazing and she must take so much time before she even starts writing the book.’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

© 2023 Avon (Audiobook): 9780008532154

Release date

Audiobook: 31 August 2023