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dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Suicide attempt
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I felt like this book was written with the intention of describing a relationship that couldn’t be more depressing and cruel. All of the characters are suffering to an extent that felt unnecessarily horrible and thus unauthentic and almost stereotypical at some point while reading. Many passages were too lengthy without any development in the plot, leaving me mostly confused as to what is actually happening and what I am supposed to feel as a reader. At the same time, I didn’t really enjoy the writing style of Mellers, as I got confused in her constant change between blunt dialogues and sudden almost poetic passages. I think overall the writing was too cliché for me, making the dialogues predictable and simply frustrating.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Self harm, Suicide attempt
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was really satisfying. I loved the writing style - it felt like we followed each person's thoughts and actions in a natural and interesting way, and Mellors seems to know exactly when to leave a person's perspective for maximum impact. Cleo and Frank are deeply interesting and complex, and the vignettes of their lives over the first year of their marriage paint a thoughtful portrait of two people trying to make when they are so different. I found many parts of this book profound and loved getting insights into the people in Cleo and Frank's lives, especially Zoe, Eleanor, and Santiago. New York City is also a vivid character in this book, which I always love. I found this book really affecting and will definitely be reading more of Mellors' work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexual content, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Addiction, Animal death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Classism
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Self harm
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Suicide, Suicide attempt
dark
emotional
sad
tense
Love the writing style of Coco Mellors, but sometimes a story is just not meant to be for everyone. I started reading „Cleopatra & Frankenstein“ with the intention of reading about their love story. That’s not what happened Half way through, I thought I could never recommend this book to anyone. Too much trauma. But now that I’ve finished it, it kinda grew on me. They, Frank and Cleo, grew on me. Reading about their relationship, their ups and downs, mainly their downs, did something to me I can’t pinpoint yet. But coming back to my statement from the beginning. Do I think this story was „meant“ for me? No. Does that mean it’s a bad written story? No. It was fun getting to know Frank and Cleo, but I’m happy to say goodbye to them as well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Dementia, Suicide attempt, Death of parent
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Coco Mellors is genius and you need to read this book.
The characters are so diverse! From a gay Polish man (trans woman?) to a woman who’s best friend is her mom, from British young broke depressed girl to older rich alcoholic. They are all unique and literally jump out through the page.
Mellors write unlikeablility so well—I really hated some of the characters!
The writing also isn’t just in one form but is refreshing and changes throughout out.
I stunned, mindblown, and speechless. I can’t wait to read Blue Sisters (her new book) and will read anything she posts—even her shopping lists.
The characters are so diverse! From a gay Polish man (trans woman?) to a woman who’s best friend is her mom, from British young broke depressed girl to older rich alcoholic. They are all unique and literally jump out through the page.
Mellors write unlikeablility so well—I really hated some of the characters!
The writing also isn’t just in one form but is refreshing and changes throughout out.
I stunned, mindblown, and speechless. I can’t wait to read Blue Sisters (her new book) and will read anything she posts—even her shopping lists.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Suicide attempt, Alcohol
Minor: Transphobia
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
An interesting people focused story. However I found the emotionally low mood of the book, sometimes quite relentless.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Suicide attempt, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Alcohol
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was alright, I had heard so much rave about it that I had expected it to be a bit more. I didn't really fall in love with the characters that much and had a hard time following when the POV switched.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Suicide, Suicide attempt
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Notes:
- A really great character-driven litfic book! I felt so so incredibly invested in these characters and I had rather long and intensive reading sessions because of it.
- Especially started to feel this in the second half of the book after Cleo comes out of the hospital and she and Frank stay at the house by the lake. All through Eleanor's POV getting with Frank to the conclusion as well!
- This book centres around flawed people with really strong emotions and their impacts on those around them — essentially my favourite theme that could be explored in literature.
- Extra sidenote: would recommend this to someone who wants to read A Little Life but doesn't want the intensity that comes with it (ie. this book is both shorter and not quite as graphic without losing the impact of its shared themes).
- Forever thinking about that scene where Cleo shows Frank her art installation in the dirt. Insanely impactful; I felt that SO deep in my body.
- A really great character-driven litfic book! I felt so so incredibly invested in these characters and I had rather long and intensive reading sessions because of it.
- This book centres around flawed people with really strong emotions and their impacts on those around them — essentially my favourite theme that could be explored in literature.
- Extra sidenote: would recommend this to someone who wants to read A Little Life but doesn't want the intensity that comes with it (ie. this book is both shorter and not quite as graphic without losing the impact of its shared themes).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug use, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Animal death