Reviews with content warning for Self harm - Cleopatra and Frankenstein

This book had way too many drugs for me. I understand that they where there to illustrate point but I honestly felt like the point could be made without it. Addition was a big theme in the book and while the taking drugs and drinking lots was definitely explored, I feel like the harm that is done to the individual and those around the person dealing with an addiction was not.

At the end of the book Cloe mentions that she feels jelouse of Elenor, because she gets sober Frank, while Cloe had to deal with Frank the addict. I felt like this was a very poignant reflection to make and a theme worth exploring, how addiction does not only effect the addict but also those around them. I felt that Cloe could have been painted with a lot more depth and a less glamorisation, she felt very much created for the male gaze. A deeper exploration of how it felt to be with Frank as he drank his way through the marriage would have been much more interesting. And lastly I feel like Frank never took any responsibility for anything, and got a happy ending. We didn't even get to explore how difficult it is to quit an addiction and how that too has a huge mental impact on those around you. Instead in 5 pages he had quit drinking and was moving in with Elenor.

Overall I felt like it was a book that could have been very interesting, and touched on very relevant themes, but instead opted for a glamorised and shallow version of what it could have been.

I enjoyed the focus on some of the side characters, but again we find ourselves with the issue of glamorisation.

Zoe would have made for a very interesting discussion of desperation, when she decides to look for a sugar daddy. Instead her sugar daddy is the nicest and most wonderful person imaginable and makes Zoe's life better.

What is the point of introducing complex themes if they aren't even going to be adressed? I found Andres boring, and Elenor insecure.

Elenor's insecurity is another place where the story fell flat. The way Elenor talks about herself is very sad, but this is not explored. Literally she is used to be like she is ugly but then she isn't vapid, instead of exploring insecurity, and how it can lead individuals to very dark places here frankly absuive relationship is treated as something funny, except in one line at the end. She is also used as the archetype of Cleo's shadow as she is everything that Cleo is not, ugly and has substance. Except Cleo has substance, she is also living with multiple addicts, something that has a huge impact on mental health, not to mention that she was previously also struggling with depression. It feels much more like the author wants to play into the pretty but vapid stereotype than anything, and uses Elenor to highlight that, through juxtaposition. And then magically Frank is into her and all her problems are solved. We simply gloss over the fact that her insecurity makes her very easy to take advantage of, or the fact that she is frankly depressed. No because Frank likes her so it's okay, that's all that matter is the end.

And don't get me started on Frank.

He is horrible. He treats Cleo like a trophy, he doesn't care about anyone and this serves no purpose in the plot whatsoever. Cause then oh he magically quits drinking because that is so simple and suddenly he is an am amazing guy, and he gets the happy ending.

I hated Quinten and if I wrote about him this review would never end. Santiago was the best character by far, and tell mw why was he the only one with character development?? I quite liked Cloe though I felt like she deserved much more.

The book it introduced multiple heavy themes, and ignored all of them to talk about parties and drugs.

Content Warnings

krystalkoski's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I enjoyed reading this book, I think. I do think in this case the constant switching between characters that were only peripherally involved with the story hurt the ability to view the flawed main characters and really understand their complexities. It also took me out of it that there were similar writing and descriptive styles used for all the characters that were so vastly different. Still an enjoyable read though, but nothing too groundbreaking

Content Warnings