Reviews with content warning for Alcoholism - Cleópatra e Frankenstein

Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Cleópatra e Frankenstein by Coco Mellors

952 reviews

soph0107's review against another edition

4.5

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

geraldinerowe's review against another edition

4.25

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful 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

This book is about dreadful people being generally dreadful. And yet thanks to the extraordinary writing it's compelling. I found myself caring about them while they destroyed themselves and each other, and then healed (mostly). It brought tears to my eyes a couple of times. I can't wait to read Blue Sisters.

Content Warnings

thebookg0ddess's review against another edition

3.5

challenging dark emotional hopeful slow-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

chloe_hazel's review against another edition

5.0

dark funny reflective sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

sima92's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense 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

rubydeadyridge's review against another edition

2.0

emotional sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

The editor must have been on annual leave. This insipid novel aims to be realist, but is at no point even believable. The characters are cringe-worthily written, self-absorbed cliches. The side characters and their traumatic backstories only exist to serve under the leads, and leaves a taste of tone deaf racism in the mouth. It take traumatic events and conditions- from addiction to suicide- and exploits them recklessly. So much so that it feel sensationalist.

Content Warnings

lottaleonora's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

lemonyanne's review against another edition

4.0

challenging emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This book feels like you’re invited into the world of well-off socialite New York as a total voyeur. You’d never want to be part of this circle as all the characters are flawed and unlikeable in their own ways. However, Cleo and Frank’s relationship IS interesting and this discussion of how they destroy one another in the mutual distraction of themselves is why you keep reading it. You don’t want to look away from the car crash on the highway. (SPOILERS:) However, Eleanor’s 2 chapters felt really misplaced. First person was the wrong choice for her (esp when then rest of the novel is in third) and felt like an ill-attempt at making her feel normal, relatable or quirky - this I think was the more unsuccessful element of her narrative. I also don’t think she was Frank’s saving grace and I’m unsure if she was written to be. Although, her pining love for Frank could serve as an interesting contrasting how Anders pined for Cleo, as Eleanor’s love showed far more compassion, maturity and self-awareness as opposed to Anders’ vapid, self-absorbed obsession with Cleo was. All in all, this book felt like reading gossip, and for that purpose it worked fabulously.

Content Warnings