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Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Alcohol
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt
Minor: Homophobia, Transphobia
The novel follows Cleo, a young British artist, and Frank, an older American ad man, who impulsively marry after a whirlwind romance in New York. What follows is an intimate, messy, and often bleak exploration of their relationship—and the web of people around them—as they each try to find themselves (or lose themselves) in love, ambition, addiction, and identity.
Now, my feelings about this book are... complicated. I didn’t love it, I didn’t hate it. It’s very character-driven, which I usually enjoy, and Mellors really knows how to write interiority. There were moments—especially during Cleo’s depressive episodes—that hit way too close to home. But what kept me from fully loving it was the lack of character growth. These people felt real, but also kind of stuck in their own cycles, like they never really learned or changed.
If you're looking for something plot-heavy, this might not be for you. But if you’re into messy, melancholic stories with poetic writing and emotionally distant characters spiraling through life, this might just scratch that itch. It didn’t become a favorite for me, but I can totally see why it resonates with a lot of readers.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Blood, Suicide attempt, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Dementia, Death of parent
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
This book explores growth, learning, and healing in unconventional settings. Some parts of this were extremely boring to me because I wasn’t interested in that dramatic New Yorker scene. However, it all came together quite beautifully in the end.
Frank and Cleo’s love story, with its authenticity, played a pivotal role in their healing journey. Moreover, the book’s ending left me with a sense of hope and happiness, even with the dramatic events of New York life.
I also want to say: I think this book is MEANT to be messy, because the characters are messy. I think if you enjoy these kinds of books and characters it’s a really great read!
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug use
Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol
Moderate: Addiction, Animal death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Self harm, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Abandonment
Minor: Body horror
Graphic: Drug use, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Animal death, Vomit
Minor: Drug abuse, Sexual content, Dementia, Death of parent
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Drug use, Infidelity
Moderate: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Death of parent
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, Self harm, Suicide, Sexual harassment
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Animal death, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Self harm, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Adult/minor relationship