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Graphic: Alcoholism, Infidelity, Suicide attempt
didn’t feel emotionally connected to the characters though which explains the 4 star rating.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship
Moderate: Body shaming, Death of parent
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship
Moderate: Animal death, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Transphobia, Death of parent, Sexual harassment
Minor: Emotional abuse, Vomit
The centrepiece of this book is obviously the tempestuous relationship between Cleo and Frank; written in a dual POV. While the multiple POV format was effective in adding important depth and understanding to these characters, it also sometimes felt like it stifled the narrative’s natural development. I’m wondering whether this book may have been even better if it was told exclusively from Cleo’s perspective. Not to mention there was separate individual chapters for Quentin, Santiago, and Zoe, which again, while entertaining enough, didn’t really add anything substantial to the narrative. A pleasant distraction, but a distraction nonetheless.
I did really enjoy the thought you could tell Mellors put into making sure these characters didn’t fall too far into particular character archetypes - the old drunk, the tortured young artist- occasionally it would feel like they slipped into that territory, but they were always able to be rescued.
Reading back through, it does sound like I’m being too harsh on this book considering that I really enjoyed it. This book, much like Cleo & Frank, has flaws, but remains lovable & worthwhile regardless.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Infidelity, Sexual content, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Animal death, Toxic relationship
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Alcohol
Moderate: Infidelity, Mental illness, Violence
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Violence, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Grief
Yes, even if it is about Cleo's and Frank's relationship, I think the other characters chapters add to the story.
I felt that the story unfolded pretty similarly to real life, where a relationship between two people is far more than that. (For example, whether you break up with your partner doesn't only evolve aroud your own feelings, it also depends on what your best friend will say about them, all your past relationships, how you grew up...)
I felt it was a fresh approach to the romance (?) genre, in how it subverted the almost sterile relationship between two people we've been reading about lately.
Even if some of the characters are less likable, I felt I still cared about them and wanted to know more about their story. I finished this book quite easily and couldn't get enough of it.
It's not a 4 star book because I felt that some stories were cut short, right when something big/ interesting would happen.
Also, I think Cleo's character was very stereotypical (in a good way) of the "detached woman in her 20's" trope that we've been seeing lately ...
Lastly, congrats to Coco, they said it took them 7 years to finish this book. It's such a magical but also ordinary story on human relations and how each one of us is so different and special. Much love 𓆩♡𓆪
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Death of parent
Minor: Animal death
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Alcohol
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Eating disorder, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Transphobia, Gaslighting, Abandonment
Minor: Pregnancy
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail