Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

Cléopâtre et Frankenstein by Coco Mellors

178 reviews

bookshelfhannah's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Blood, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, and Drug abuse

sammyjogeara's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

4.75

I finally fucking finished this book. And I want to cry about it. This was an emotional roller-coaster and a real coming of age story — of all ages. Self-harm, self-hate, self-sabotage, trauma, depression, dysmorfofobia, addiction, alcoholism, co-dependency. I’m really happy I paced myself reading this since it turned out to be one of the best — yet most painful — books I’ve read this year. I feel empty and full at the end of this and through it all still a message of hope, of overcoming once own adversities and somewhat killing your darlings. I genuinly recommend you to read this. However beware — you’re going to need to eat your feelings at the end of it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Addiction, Transphobia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Self harm, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Body shaming, and Fatphobia

kashmore's review against another edition

dark sad fast-paced

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

1.5

I thought that this book was satire until I realized it wasn’t. To me, much of conversation between characters seemed contrived, and I initially thought that could be intentional. I found parts of book compelling—particularly the Eleanor chapters—but overall felt the changing perspectives in each chapter were more gimmicky than constructive. Plot points are introduced and then abandoned, or major events/conversations overlooked or only referred to as having happened off screen. I’m thinking specifically about

Quentin’s character and how he is sidelined soon after being introduced — there’s little we hear from him after his introductory chapter, only to have it revealed at the end of the book that he’s been struggling with drug addiction, with little followup or commentary from any of the other characters

. I did finish the book and found it to be a quick read, and despite it dealing with some very serious issues, did not find it weighed down or overly dragging. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Racism, Drug use, Alcoholism, Suicide attempt, Sexual content, Drug abuse, and Animal death

milanaradic's review against another edition

dark funny hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, Eating disorder, and Drug abuse

harry_lemon's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

5⭐
Wow! This book was amazing. If you are anyone going through a transition in your life - whether that's work, love, school, or just figuring out who the next version of yourself is - this is the book for you!

I'll admit, it took a minute for me to get into the story at the beginning; I was almost apathetic to Cleo and Frank just because I didn't seem to terribly care about their stories. But, as the book went on and I learned the cast of characters, I began to feel for each of these individuals like they were real people. 

Mellors does an amazing job of keeping you guessing on where the next bit of drama is going to happen and wondering what love really is. I think anyone can relate to at least one person in this story. 

Also, if you're looking for a book rec for someone in their early- to mid-twenties, this is the book for them!!

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Content Warnings

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide

inlaraland's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Cleopatra & Frankenstein - a dramatic story that follows Cleo, an English painter living in New York, falling in love with a man named Frank who is twenty years older than her. Frank is extremely successful, and he offers Cleo a chance at being happy along with the security of staying in the city. The novel follows their marriage, and how it spirals from glitter to dust while also exploring the lives of the people closest to them.

I have mixed feelings about this book if I’m being honest. I enjoyed it, but I didn’t love it. I thought Cleo and Frank had a great, fleshed out story that really described their tumultuous relationship. However, I can’t say the same about the many other side characters. To me their stories felt quite disconnected and rushed in comparison which made the pacing of the book seem a little off at times. I also thought that there were elements of the book that were quite stereotypical and cliche, which made some parts a little bit too predictable for my liking. However, I still think that this is a solid read. I was hooked on the drama between the characters, and I liked just how flawed they all were in their own way. There are many themes that are explored in the book, but I think that the author did a great job at highlighting the highs and lows of addiction in its many forms.

This is the kind of book that I would read on vacation, or by the beach. It’s not a book that I would recommend to everyone, but if you grew up reading or watching “Gossip Girl” and “Sex and the City”, and you’re looking for something similar but a more melancholic and sad - then you might enjoy this novel.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug use, Sexual content, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Drug abuse, and Suicide attempt

lilalhreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Drug use, Addiction, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship

lotteee11's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.0

A highly realistic tale of messed-up people in a messed-up city. All in all a very pleasant read with some minor plot-twist and the daunting question of who is going to cheat first.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction and Alcoholism

Moderate: Mental illness, Infidelity, and Death of parent

Minor: Suicide attempt and Suicidal thoughts

desired_moon's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I really enjoyed this book. it felt so raw, so real. In man was i found myself in this book. 

but man - i fucking hate Frank. every other character i could still see their good sides, but not Frank. i will never forgive him for what he did to the sugarglider. i will die a Frank hater.
also im really sad about quentins end.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Sexual assault

Minor: Grief

lauraloren's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Alcoholism, Animal death, Drug abuse, Suicide attempt, Addiction, Alcohol, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship