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waybeyondblue's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
One of the sisters, Nicky, is killed off before the story even starts - in the prologue, I mean she literally doesn't make it to chapter 1. And OF COURSE she's the sister with endometriosis.
The descriptions of endometriosis pain were ok - quite accurate (though superficial). But endo doesn't typically kill people. So Mellors gives it the double-whammy and throws in some drug addiction for pain relief, and that's what kills her.
These are two serious issues, but the way they are casually combined is trite - very frothy, a Hallmark version. There's a weird part where they think her soul has been reincarnated into a pink smeg fridge. That's the kind of Hallmark I mean.
The whole story is about Nicky's remaining sisters 'find themselves' again in the wake of her death. It can be summed up by this one (bad) quote: 'Did Nicky not teach you anything? Do you still not get the part about the fucking fragility of life?'
'Bury your disabled' is a well-known trope. It's basically where writers kill off the disabled characters because they're only there as a plot device - to give inspiration or a life lesson for the non-disabled characters. That's pretty much what's going on here.
Nicky's life has no value in itself - she doesn't really exist in the story, only as a memory. And her main purpose is to inspire her non-disabled sisters to turn their lives around. Even in interviews, I've heard Mellors describe it as a book about 'three sisters' - she's erased from the start, even though the whole plot hinges on her death.
She's also presented as something of a martyr, the 'good' sister who, out of them all, least deserved to die *eye roll* - another disability trope.
There are also some weird takes on queer relationships, too, including this awful sapphic sex scene: 'It felt so good, so right... Not at all like with the boys before... Above her the Virgin Mary smiled down, and, staring up into her benevolent grey eyes, Avery had orgasmed powerfully for the first time. She'd maintained a secret soft spot for the Mother of God ever since.'
I mean... ?!
I could go on, but think I'll just leave it there....
Graphic: Addiction, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Chronic illness, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy
anna_wiskerchen's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Blue Sisters was so well written and I loved how each sister was featured with their own chapters through the book, it made it really easy to follow along, you definitely really had a pay attention to this book because there were times when suddenly the story was in the past and I didn’t realize it was in the past so I had to rewind and figure out what I missed, even though that happened quite a few times I really liked the incredibly smooth transition of going from present to past. (totally on me for not listening well enough, ha) It was certainly an emotional roller coaster from start to finish, you really weren’t sure what was gonna happen, or if any of the sisters would be able to fix themselves by the end of the book. They all kind of came to the realization that they had issues and they needed to fix at the same time and honestly, even though it might be cliché to end a story, that is so spot on to how sister’s minds work. You will always be connected with them whether you want to or not. It’s similar to “twin telepathy,” in a sense.
I really enjoyed this book and I’m looking forward to reading more by Coco Mellors.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Alcohol
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
lujisa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, and Grief
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
maddiebusick's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, and Alcohol
Moderate: Chronic illness, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Medical trauma
Minor: Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
katiejohns's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Grief
stephasaurousrex's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment
weeniereads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Grief
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment
christyvieras's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Intially the pace is slow and enjoyable to get to know the character, however, further down, I found myself confused of whats going own. Feels a bit too tropy for the sake of the trope, I kept on waiting for the emotional tug throughout the book however it never got there.
I also wished the story will unravel the character for me instead of being described by the author.
Lastly, I did enjoy how this story conclude being hopeful and fulfilling.
This book won't be on my re-read pile nor reccomend to a friend due to the content warning.
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Sexual content, and Grief
Moderate: Infidelity, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic relationship
supermormongirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism
qamidala27's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Grief
Minor: Abortion, Abandonment, and Classism