Reviews tagging 'Infidelity'

Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors

182 reviews

dany_casimiro's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Check out the trigger warnings beforehand!

Long Story Short: New York in a whirlwind of art, sensible depictions of mental illness and heartbreak seasoned with a strong sense of irony.

Coco Mellors has terrific writing skills: each POV reads like being inside the character's mind, and the recurring humor never gets old. I particularly enjoyed the switching between Cleo and Frank and their friends and acquaintances. The pacing helped to maintain a constantly refreshed narrative while providing each character with the breathing time they needed to be explored and developed. This includes the city as well since we get the feeling that New York is always present, its lights glistering in the background.
Perfect for anyone who enjoys Sally Rooney's representation of toxic relationships looking for a more hardcore read! 


 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Drug use, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Self harm, Alcoholism, Toxic friendship, Animal death, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Blood, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Infidelity, Mental illness, Medical content, Vomit, Animal death, Toxic friendship, Self harm, Cursing, Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Abandonment, Alcohol, Drug abuse, and Drug use

mecmccann's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I had high hopes for Cleopatra and Frankenstein, and it definitely lived up to my expectations. 

This book follows Frank and Cleo, who quickly fall in love and get married so that Cleo can obtain a visa. But a flame dies down as quickly as it rises, and they quickly run into marital problems. We follow as their relationship ebbs and flows, until their inevitable demise. 

This book hits hard at what it means to be human. It's complicated and beautiful, devastating and joyful. If you are an empathetic human, you will enjoy this book. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Alcoholism, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Mental illness, Grief, Alcohol, Self harm, Animal death, Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, and Addiction

susiemilani's review against another edition

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Death, Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Infidelity

jordkuba's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Very good book, well written and nice to read. Unfortunately, it contained a number of topics that difficult for me. That somewhat diminished my enjoyment. I'm sure I could have liked it more at a different time in my life .

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Animal cruelty, Alcoholism, Addiction, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Death of parent, Infidelity, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Dementia, Eating disorder, Drug abuse, Fatphobia, and Grief

Minor: Self harm, Violence, Fatphobia, Adult/minor relationship, and Dysphoria

kashmore's review against another edition

dark sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

I thought that this book was satire until I realized it wasn’t. To me, much of conversation between characters seemed contrived, and I initially thought that could be intentional. I found parts of book compelling—particularly the Eleanor chapters—but overall felt the changing perspectives in each chapter were more gimmicky than constructive. Plot points are introduced and then abandoned, or major events/conversations overlooked or only referred to as having happened off screen. I’m thinking specifically about

Quentin’s character and how he is sidelined soon after being introduced — there’s little we hear from him after his introductory chapter, only to have it revealed at the end of the book that he’s been struggling with drug addiction, with little followup or commentary from any of the other characters

. I did finish the book and found it to be a quick read, and despite it dealing with some very serious issues, did not find it weighed down or overly dragging. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Racism, Drug use, Alcoholism, Suicide attempt, Sexual content, Drug abuse, and Animal death

thetainaship's review against another edition

2.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Drug abuse, Drug use, Alcohol, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Addiction, Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Blood, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Sexism, and Toxic friendship

lochnessmonster's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Cleo and Franks relationship is like watching a high speed car crash in slow motion. You know what’s going to happen but you can’t look away. Fantastic look into trauma, how it changes you/ effects every part of your life, and how healing can really turn your everything around for the better. 
It’s also interesting to see our titular characters from not as glamorous but relatable Eleanor’s perspective and through her I warmed up to Frank a bit. Also loved what little we got of Zoe and her journey. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Addiction, Alcoholism, Infidelity, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Grief, Drug use, and Blood

samneel's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, and Suicide attempt

inlaraland's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Cleopatra & Frankenstein - a dramatic story that follows Cleo, an English painter living in New York, falling in love with a man named Frank who is twenty years older than her. Frank is extremely successful, and he offers Cleo a chance at being happy along with the security of staying in the city. The novel follows their marriage, and how it spirals from glitter to dust while also exploring the lives of the people closest to them.

I have mixed feelings about this book if I’m being honest. I enjoyed it, but I didn’t love it. I thought Cleo and Frank had a great, fleshed out story that really described their tumultuous relationship. However, I can’t say the same about the many other side characters. To me their stories felt quite disconnected and rushed in comparison which made the pacing of the book seem a little off at times. I also thought that there were elements of the book that were quite stereotypical and cliche, which made some parts a little bit too predictable for my liking. However, I still think that this is a solid read. I was hooked on the drama between the characters, and I liked just how flawed they all were in their own way. There are many themes that are explored in the book, but I think that the author did a great job at highlighting the highs and lows of addiction in its many forms.

This is the kind of book that I would read on vacation, or by the beach. It’s not a book that I would recommend to everyone, but if you grew up reading or watching “Gossip Girl” and “Sex and the City”, and you’re looking for something similar but a more melancholic and sad - then you might enjoy this novel.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug use, Sexual content, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Drug abuse, and Suicide attempt

lotteee11's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A highly realistic tale of messed-up people in a messed-up city. All in all a very pleasant read with some minor plot-twist and the daunting question of who is going to cheat first.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction and Alcoholism

Moderate: Mental illness, Infidelity, and Death of parent

Minor: Suicide attempt and Suicidal thoughts